The moment their skin touched, the bond flared again, pulsing with light. Gavriel’s eyes snapped open, and his power, once unstable and suppressed, suddenly surged back.

Dark mist exploded outward, tearing through the storm like a wave, forcing the sand to retreat in all directions. The desert shook beneath them, and the air finally calmed.

Uriel and Gustav moved closer, while Candice and Osman appeared beside them, ready for battle.

Zander’s laughter echoed faintly through. Gavriel rose ...