"I can shroud you from sight for a time," the woman in black said, her voice smooth yet edged with warning. "But the moment you approach that knife, the concealment will falter. His aura is bound to it—he'll sense you."
Ivaim gave a confident nod, his grin sharp but measured.
"As long as it's not a perfect death trap or some inescapable ambush, I'll manage. Survival's kind of my specialty." He rolled his shoulders, his demeanor relaxed despite the gravity of the situation.
Nathan, who had been observing quietly, stepped forward. His cold, calculating gaze shifted between the woman and Ivaim.
"I'll do what I can," he said, his tone clipped and deliberate. "If he strikes, I'll make sure there's still a chance for you to evade. No guarantees, but I'll try to tip the odds in your favor."
