Renee looked at her son.
Still the same as ever, even when he cried. His chin was scrunched tight, his brows pulled so deeply together that they almost touched, and yet his eyes stayed sharp and focused through the tears. He cried without sound, letting everything fall freely, holding himself together with both hands clenched on the edge of his seat as if that alone kept him steady.
Her voice softened, but she kept going, trying to stay as strong as he was. Because even though Riley's eyes were full of tears, he was listening like he could not allow a single word to slip past him.
Then again, Renee figured that both her son and the dragon lord would want to hear what happened.
__
As if satisfied with its work, the intruder stepped back from Lord Rueben. The old vassal was already collapsing under the weight of the forbidden fire taking root inside him, but the creature only watched for a moment, tilting its ruined head as if assessing the damage.
Then it turned away.
