*Briella*

My shoulders slumped in relief as I watched the shadow monsters disperse and flee. Above me, Kryzen allowed his magic forcefield to fall and turned toward me. He offered me his hand from my crouched position. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes locked.

I reached for his hand and grabbed it. His warm calloused grip hauled me up more easily than I wanted to admit. He had gotten stronger, much stronger. When we were kids, that would’ve threatened me, now it ...