The white-haired man grunted, his voice rough, carrying like gravel over steel.
"You gonna stand there all night, tugging at each other and staring? Or are you finally gonna answer my damn questions?"
He pulled his foot off the ward's pulsing wall, then casually kicked a splintered chunk of the broken gate toward it. The wood struck the shimmering barrier and ricocheted back with a dull clang, scattering uselessly on the dirt instead of passing through.
"This ward isn't hiding you at all," he said, golden eyes narrowing. "I know you can see me... and I'm sure as hell you can hear me."
The sharpness of his words cut through the air. It snapped Yona and Lenko out of their silent match. Yona's hand slipped slightly from his arm, her composure cracking for the first time. She opened her mouth, rushing to smooth the situation.
"I'm sorry, we were just---"The Brigade…"
Both she and Lenko stiffened as Diego cut through.
