The elder remained on one knee long enough that Hendrik's entire perimeter seemed to forget how to breathe.
Arion did not.
He watched the enormous infected figure carefully, aware of every weapon trained toward it and every warning Victor was already beginning to issue through the medical channel, yet the pressure touching the edge of his mind carried none of the frantic pain he had felt from Elias.
This was different.
You finally came.
Arion went still.
There was no need for his mind to translate instinct into words this time, no uncertain impression shaped by hunger or pain, because the voice inside his head carried structure, intention, and enough weary intelligence that Arion immediately understood why Elias had called this one an elder.
You can speak.
The creature's head tilted slightly.
Not with my mouth anymore.
Arion almost smiled.
"That is inconvenient."
Hendrik glanced toward him.
"You heard something?"
"Yes."
"What?"
Arion kept his attention on the elder.
