Sebastian stared at the trembling boy on the ground, then at Page, then back at the boy again, who looked two seconds away from either crying, exploding, or possibly doing both in some catastrophic emotional implosion.
His fingers twitched helplessly against the dirt, and his breath came in thin, uneven gasps that made him look like a cornered animal.
The firelight flickered against his face, carving shadows under his eyes, making the fear there look deeper and more frantic.
Drage didn't answer.
Didn't blink.
Didn't even breathe in a rhythm that resembled anything natural. His chest rose too slowly, then too suddenly, like his body couldn't decide if it wanted to keep functioning.
The silence that followed was long enough to make the crackling fire sound uncomfortably loud, filling the clearing with a restless heat that pressed against everyone's nerves.
So Sebastian finally let out a calm, controlled exhale and asked, "Page… who is he?"
