Erik sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of their tree shelter while Amber paced back and forth.
Her face was flushed with anger, her hands clenched into tight fists, and her eyes filled with fury and fear from almost losing someone she cared about.
Her every step radiated anxiety. They'd seen Amber angry before, but watching Erik nearly die in another reckless encounter had sparked something deeper.
"You went alone against that monster?" Amber asked. "What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't alone," Erik said. "Emily was with me, and the clones were there too…"
Emily nodded from her spot in the corner. Amber gave her a dirty look. She was in as much trouble as he was.
Benedict crossed his arms. "Against that azure, thaid is still a death wish. We saw what it did to the surrounding area."
"The lake has practically boiled on one side," Martha said. "The destruction radius was enormous."
Mira sighed.
"You could have died, both of you. What would we have done then?"
