Suni straightened, rolling her shoulders as the cool night air began to swirl around her fingertips. The soft blush on her cheeks faded into a look of focused determination. "Don't hold back just because you like my face, Vallie."
Valente's deep laugh echoed through the quiet garden. "Wouldn't dream of it, princess."
He moved first—a sudden, fluid burst of speed, throwing a dense orb of crimson flame straight toward her. It wasn't fast enough to hurt her, but it demanded an immediate answer.
Instinct took over. Suni swept her hands forward, compressing the air into a dense, shimmering barrier. The fire orb slammed into the pressurized wind, exploding into a dazzling shower of harmless sparks that drifted over the moonlit grass.
