The atmosphere crackled with tension as Kael and Vane locked eyes, each one braced for the inevitable clash. Lyra could feel Kael's body tensed like a coil beside her, his protective stance clear, but she also felt the weight of the uncertainty that hung in the air. She knew Kael wouldn't back down, yet Vane's gaze was chillingly confident, as though he was merely toying with them.
"Why do you want me?" Lyra finally asked, her voice steady despite the knot of fear in her chest. "I'm not some object you can pass around."
Vane tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. "You really don't know, do you?" He laughed, the sound dark and unsettling. "Your power is more valuable than you realize. Kael knows it, Marcus knows it…even if they haven't told you the whole truth."
Kael's jaw tightened, a warning growl rumbling in his throat. "Enough, Vane."
