"Remove your hands unless you want to lose them. I might not be able to kill you, parasite, but I can make you wish that you were dead."
Neph's voice was even and quiet, so no one except her and Asterion could hear it… well, and Sunny, of course, who was hiding in her shadow. It was so emotionless as to sound inhuman, but the cold threat contained within it was only more palpable as a result.
Asterion broke his embrace and took a step back. When he spoke again, his words did not resonate across the lake, leaving the people watching them with rapt attention from afar none the wiser as to what was being said.
"How time flies. You really are all grown up, sweet Nephis."
He gave her an evaluating look.
"I've endured plenty of pain, you know. What makes you think that you'll be able to hurt me more than any of the countless ghastly beings that I've met?"
She pierced him with an impassive look.
