Riley's POV
The desperate sound of Caleb's voice echoes through my mind like thunder. His panic cuts through me sharper than any blade could.
Stay where you are, I project back with every ounce of strength I possess. I'm handling this.
His mental growl tells me he wants to abandon everything and rush to my side, but that would destroy everything we've worked for.
Cold fingers close around my throat like a vice. The pressure builds until stars dance at the edges of my vision.
"Did you really believe you could outsmart me?" His voice drips with malice as he squeezes harder. I claw desperately at his arms, my nails digging into flesh that feels wrong, corrupted. "The beauty of magical workings is they need a practitioner. And yours happens to be standing right over there."
His head jerks toward where Freya was positioned moments ago.
Except she's already moved.
