"Or did you forget I know what she does? All of your little secrets will surely interest your wonderful rector. Your sister, your own life—you have much more to lose than I do. Now, release me before you regret it."
Adam pursed his lips, clenched teeth visible, jaw cracking. Whatever wore Quintella's gentle face to command him with such bored finality, to smirk at him as if he were mere marionette dancing at the snap of its fingers on a stage surrounded by suspended blades, made his blood burn in rage.
Release it? If he did, he could negotiate, understand why it had replaced Sarah first, and now Quintella. It would save him, and perhaps help him design a plan to rescue his sister. It was the most sensible choice, the choice of reason. He knew it.
He closed his eyes. And when he reopened them, sky-blue mana blazed like wildfire. His fingers tightened around the wrist of the fake Quintella. When he answered, his voice came out like a deep echo from a collapsing cave.
