"Caedia, it is truly a pleasure to have you back safely," Esmeralda said, her gaze firmly locked on Caedia.
However, she soon turned to Rael and scowled. "I suppose this is the one responsible for taking you hostage?"
There was a moment of silence, so Rael sent a subtle elbow to Caedia's side to wake her up.
"Err... not exactly..." Caedia muttered as she straightened her back. "You see, while I was out collecting my fragment, he just so happened to offer me an escort back, and as you can see, I've returned weeks earlier than I should have."
"Yes, I can see that." Esmeralda nodded, resting a finger on her chin. "Your envoy sent word claiming you'd been kidnapped. Why exactly would they suggest something so vile?"
Rael's brows twitched as he continued listening to this woman speak.
She wasn't old by any means, likely in her mid-twenties. Still, her sheer fucking attitude made him want to stay far away.
