Cale walked ahead of Lysandra for a while, staying a few steps in front of her even when she tried to keep pace with him. He didn't stop to cast even a glance at her until they had emerged onto the main roads.

At the edge of the street just a few blocks away from Zavier Thwaite's studio, Cale pulled her aside so sharply that she gasped.

"Do you even understand the weight of what you suggested to him?" he snapped.

"W-what do you mean?" Lysandra stammered. His eyes drilled ...