As the two teens continued their ridiculous back-and-forth, the real storm brewed at the center.
Quinlan stepped forward. The air itself bent, shimmering as elements bled into existence, flames dancing in one palm, water shifting across the other.
He gestured for his girls to stay behind and continued walking toward the black-haired woman.
"I'm the boss of this place."
The moment Quinlan declared himself, Raika's body shifted seamlessly into a battle stance. Her shoulders rolled forward, her hands flexed, and her feet planted. The serpentine tattoos etched across her arms and stomach began writhing with her mounting battle intent.
Her entire body oozed an endless desire for combat.
However, Quinlan's stride never faltered. His pace was unhurried, his expression unreadable as the storm of elements weaved tighter around him. Fire hissed, water swirled.
"Your first instinct is to fight me, hmm?" he asked evenly. "Not ask where you are? What we want? How you got here?"
