Vyne shrugged and looked at him in the eyes, like he wasn't afraid of death. His posture was relaxed, almost lazy, but there was steel beneath the casual exterior.
"She's a living creature too, Kaelric. Not a 'thing.' Not your weapon." Vyne's eyes narrowed, his tone sharpening as he tilted his head, examining him like a curious predator studying wounded prey.
Kaelric's teeth ground together, the sound audible in the tense silence. His jaw worked, muscles flexing as he fought to contain the rage building in his chest.
"We promised," he said, each word dropping like a stone, voice heavy as steel dragging across concrete. "None of us shall step into the business of the other."
"Yeah, I know." Vyne's smirk didn't falter. If anything, it widened, grew sharper. "But helping people is what I do. That's the hill I'll die on." He leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees, eyes glinting like sharp glass catching firelight. "Unapologetically."
