Elias, noticing Orion's ominous smirk directed straight at him, visibly shivered and quickly stepped backward, raising his hands defensively.
Panic began to color his voice as he anxiously protested, "Wait, Orion—why are you looking at me like that? You're not seriously thinking…?"
Orion's grin widened even more as he took a step toward Elias and confidently placed a hand over his trembling shoulder.
His voice was both soothing and persuasive, though his eyes gleamed mischievously. "Well, Elias, wouldn't you want to help these poor, kidnapped children? Think about it, their helpless faces, their terrified eyes."
Elias hesitated visibly, eyes flickering uncertainly between Orion's wicked smirk and the sorrowful expressions on the faces of the two mature Tigerkin women.
