The kiss stretched, long and exhausting, until she pulled back, a thin string of saliva glinting between them, her breath ragged as she smiled down at him.
"But you have to promise me something," she said, her voice firm despite the flush on her cheeks. "Be careful—come back at the faintest hint of danger."
"I will—I promise," Syn replied, his voice steady, his hazel eyes earnest as he rested his hands on her hips, the towel's edge brushing his fingers.
"I've got friends in the Kingdom too," he added, a spark of hope lighting his tone. "I need to let them know I'm alive—they'll help us."
Vera's brow arched, skepticism flickering in her purple gaze. "Can you really trust them now?"
Syn hesitated, his confidence wavering. "Um… yes, I can," he said, though his tone faltered slightly, a shadow of doubt creeping in.
