Before he could get a single word out, she hurriedly added, "If anything goes wrong, you can immediately create a barrier and we'll run, alright? No harm, no foul."
Her heart thudded in her chest, loud enough she was sure he could hear it.
For a moment, the forest was dead silent.
Even the poisonous beast, momentarily stunned, hesitated in its approach.
Thalina watched Eyrx's eyes carefully—watched the flicker of hesitation, the faint crease between his brows.
He was cold, but not stupid.
He knew she wasn't acting without reason.
He knew something was up.
And he hated unknown variables.
'Good.'
'Hesitation is my playground.'
Seeing the tiny crack in his otherwise unshakable will, Thalina pressed the advantage.
"Trust me, alright?" she whispered, voice urgent. "Please."
Eyrx's jaw ticked once, twice.
But he didn't shoot.
Victory!
At least partial victory.
Relief gushed through her like a dam breaking.
Now... to handle the beast.
