Being surprised and similarly on the brink of having a heart attack seemed to be a common experience for one twenty-five-year-old originally human aide.
It happened so often that Riley had long accepted the possibility that this was simply his default state now. Permanently stunned. Regularly speechless. Mildly concerned for his own lifespan despite it being stretched for far longer now.
And it was happening again.
Only this time, his hand was being lifted so carefully, so gently, that his mouth fell open on instinct, his brain producing the most intelligent response it could manage.
"What?"
In truth, that single word carried an impressive amount of meaning.
What is that?
What's happening?
What are you doing?
What possessed you to do this now?
But Riley didn't voice any of it. More like he couldn't.
Because the moment he felt it, his thoughts completely blanked.
Kael's hand shook.
