"Can you cut it out?" Mallory snapped, her tone sharp as she hurriedly tied her hair back into a bun. Her glare pierced the culprit responsible for the mess—a grin plastered across his face as he leaned against the watchtower's railing.
"Come on, Mallory! A kiss isn't enough!" Xana teased, his tone playful, utterly unfazed by her irritation.
"Shut up, Xana! You're going to get us killed!" Mallory hissed, shoving his arm aside as she stepped out of the watchtower. Her sharp retort cut through the silence of the night, her frustration bubbling over.
Her gaze wandered to the distant watchtowers, quiet and still under the moonlight. She scanned the area, her sharp eyes searching for anything unusual. The silence, though comforting to Xana, only made Mallory uneasy.
Before her focus could settle, an arm snaked around her waist, pulling her back.
"Xana!" she growled, slapping his arm away with a force that would've sent anyone else stumbling.
