Chapter 145: Destinations
Dune gripped Liora tightly, her broken hand dangling helplessly while his other arm locked around her waist like iron.
With precise focus, he guided her remaining good hand toward the cage wall. Neba shimmered around his neck, his intention clear and burning.
Dune whispered inside her mind. "Tell the others to step away. Tell that blue-masked wolf to back off from our barrier... or I’ll slit your throat. Translate my words exactly."
Liora’s body stiffened. Her breath hitched, and she trembled against his hold.
"Why..." she whispered in his mind, voice barely audible. "Why are you doing this?"
Dune’s chuckle was dry and cold. "Are you serious? You just told me you people would kill us. Did you think I’d just roll over and accept death? I’m going to survive, even if I have to slaughter every last one of you."
His weapon pressed harder against her throat. A thin trail of blood bloomed, red against the soft glow of her neck.
"Now stop talking," Dune growled. "Say what I told you."
With her hand pressed to the cage wall, Liora let her Neba glow faintly. The invisible waves carried her voice, rippling through the air like whispers only her people could hear.
Outside, the robed warriors stirred. Their eyes flickered toward one another, silent debate passing in tense glances.
The blue-masked wolf stepped forward, anger rising, his Neba sparking with violent tension.