The rogue leader's grin widened further, his dark eyes gleaming like a predator who had just spotted its prey in the fading light. The tension in the air grew thicker with every heartbeat, and the other rogues outside the camp stepped forward, forming a loose circle around Celine and Ray.
Ray muttered under his breath, his tone laced with reluctant humor and worry, "I hate where this is going,"
Celine, determined not to let her fear show, ignored him and kept her chin high. Her pulse raced like a wild drum, but she held herself steady. If she showed any sign of weakness, she knew she would lose the respect of these hardened warriors before she even had a chance to prove her worth.
The rogue leader, still smirking with that dangerous glint, tilted his head slightly as if studying her very soul. "You want to stand with the rogues?" he challenged in a low, teasing tone. "Prove you're worthy."
