Aiden froze when he suddenly heard a voice echo inside his mind.
"I know. I'm only trying to heal your injury. Do you think I want to lick your wound or get tied down with you?"
His eyes widened. That was not his imagination, right? He darted his head from side to side, searching for whoever had spoken. The forest was silent except for the rustling of leaves and the distant birdsong. His chest tightened as a wave of panic rose in him.
"What the hell…" he muttered, his voice trembling. Then louder, with a shaky breath, he shouted, "Whoever you are, come out now! This isn't funny!"
The voice returned, calm yet faintly irritated. "What are you looking around for? I'm down here."
Aiden's gaze dropped, and his stomach twisted. The only living creature in front of him was the rainbow-colored bird still perched nearby. Its multicolored feathers shimmered faintly under the magical light of the forest, and its eyes glowed with the same strange disdain he had noticed earlier.
