Hearing the tremor in Veer's voice, Kaya's heart sank. She followed his gaze downward, and that's when she noticed it—the grass wasn't just swaying with the breeze. It was trembling, as if something massive was slithering beneath it.
Veer's jaw tightened. He glanced at Kaya, then at the bag lying near the roots of the tree. His voice was low but sharp.
"Listen carefully. I'm going to lower you on the count of three. You grab the bag as fast as you can—don't hesitate, not even for a second. Got it?"
Kaya opened her mouth to answer, but he was already counting.
"Three… two…"
Before she could even say yes, he dropped her down in a swift motion. Kaya's reflexes kicked in. She lunged, snatching the bag with every ounce of strength in her arms.
"One!" Veer's shout cut through the air, and the moment her fingers closed around the strap, he yanked her back up and bolted into the sky with explosive speed.
