The villagers fell into a strained silence as soon as Alaric emerged from the house. A palpable tension stretched through the air, taut as a drum skin, barely containing the emotions beating below the surface.
It hung there for a minute, making Alaric feel like time had stopped.
When the wind chime dangling from one end of the porch awning tinkled in the breeze, the illusion of timelessness shattered. All at once, the drum skin of tension tore, releasing a barrage of shouted questions and accusations.
Alaric's whole body stiffened as the crowd hurled their words like stones, but Lysander had already moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with him on one side, while Willow and Kit flanked him on the other. Sonia claimed the place next to Lysander, where Nicasi should have been.
Alaric was grateful for the reminder that no matter what kind of attack they faced, they faced it together.
