Auren's eyes widened, his grip tightening around Elyndra's wrist, "What are you doing?"
His breath came heavier now, his focus splitting between her and the growing unease crawling up his spine. His other hand lifted instinctively, fingers flicking through the air as though reaching for something that should have answered his call.
Nothing did.
A cold realization slid through him.
The feathers weren't responding.
He clenched his jaw, eyes flicking from Elyndra's hand to her face. There was a change in her expression, from anger and frustration, her eyes and eyes started smiling, mockingly.
Then her laughter burst out in the bathroom.
It ricocheted against the tiled walls… sharp, cruel and empty, filling the space with a sound that carried no warmth at all. It bounced off the mirrors, swallowing the last faint hum of magic that had once answered Auren's call.
"Oh, Auren…" she said between amused breaths. "Did you really think it would be that easy?"
