As the sun slowly set beyond the horizon, Val's gaze tracked the road ahead as they continued along the rocky path, his boots crunching against the dirt. His eyes drifted to Sky and Yara, the pair a few paces ahead. The tension between him and Yara felt as heavy as the thickening night air, and he couldn't help but notice how easily she seemed with Sky. To his surprise, Yara had noticeably relaxed around Sky, even smiling at something the younger dragon said.
She looked so engrossed, her eyes bright. Val narrowed his eyes as he watched her laugh—a soft, genuine laugh—at something Sky said. Val couldn't hear the words, but whatever it was had her captivated, her eyes bright and focused, her usual guardedness completely forgotten.
"What are you up to, Sky?" Val muttered, almost to himself. Here was his youngest brother, the same one who'd just been warning him about the unpredictability and dangers of humans, now prancing ahead to get closer to Yara.
Hypocrite.
