"Look," he said, sliding an apology into his tone like a coin across a bar counter, "you were clear last time, alright? I taught you the binding charms, the mana flow basics. You've got enough to scrape by."
His voice was light, teasing, but his eyes flicked between them, gauging their mood.
"You better have," Lia said, her jaw tight, her dark eyes boring into him like she was measuring him for a coffin. "If we fail this, we're coming for you. And not in a fun way."
"You mean it," Sophia added, her voice softer now but laced with a daring edge, her lips quirking in a way that was a full threat.
She tucked a stray curl behind her ear, her fingers lingering there, and Lor caught the faint flush on her cheeks, a mix of anger and something else that made the air feel a little too warm.
His grin sharpened, a flicker of amusement breaking through his calculated calm.
