The air grew thick with tension as the conversation took an unexpected turn, quickly devolving into a heated argument. Austin's lips pressed tightly together as Mika flung an accusation at Khai.
Her face was shrouded in anger, but somewhere, he could sense a subtle hurt in her voice. In Khai's defense though, the timing couldn't look worse. Their sudden appearance coincided with their encounter with the rogue, and their refusal to explain their reasons for seeking out Anaya only added to their rising suspicions. Although he took a leap of faith, deciding to trust them to satiate his curiosity, Austin held his breath every time Khai raised his doubts on the elves' intentions. This was because there was a part of him that questioned their motives as well.
The ambiguity of the situation only served to intensify the suffocating discomfort that hung heavily in the air.
