Issac met them on their way out. "I am coming along," he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Aldric answered nonchalantly, unbothered by the stern look on Issac’s face, "I wish I could, but there’s no space for three."
Islinda looked up at him, a question at the tip of her tongue. Although the medallion could only transport two at a time, Aldric was making it seem like there would have been no choice even if there was space for three.
"Is there no way he can tag along?" she asked out of sheer curiosity.
Islinda could understand Issac’s frustration with Maxi being all alone in the palace with no one to protect her.
Aldric spared her a look, saying, "Do you think we are going on a field trip? Also, Azrael barely agreed to this as it is."
"Azrael?" Islinda asked, but Aldric had already moved on.
Issac stubbornly stuck to their side, determined to tag along. They had barely stepped into the hall when Islinda noticed the presence of an unknown figure and she halted in her tracks, stopping the others as well.
Islinda had never seen that person before in her entire life, and perhaps it was her Fae side recognizing the presence of a stronger, dangerous predator. The figure wore a cloak with a hood that covered his appearance. He lowered it at once and looked at them.
He had hair as dark as midnight, almost like Aldric’s, except it lacked the blue hue, and it cascaded down his shoulders. The man loomed tall, way taller than Aldric, about seven feet in height. He was muscular but not with rippling muscles; he looked fit and sinewy, like a predator always ready to strike. When he turned around, Islinda saw what looked like feathers trailing down his skin, adding an otherworldly touch to his already intimidating presence.
However, it was his eyes that unnerved her. They had the same intelligent glint she had seen in the eyes of Aldric’s ravens. Yes, the ravens! That was what he reminded her of. The dark, almond-shaped eyes were intense and penetrating, almost as if they could see right through her. The irises were a deep, glossy black that seemed to absorb all light, giving them an eerie, reflective quality. They held an enigmatic and powerful gaze, one that made Islinda feel exposed and vulnerable.
He was definitely not human, Islinda knew. Not with the feathers on his skin and those piercing eyes that made him seem like some creature from ancient legends. Islinda felt a shiver run down her spine as she continued to watch him, mesmerized and unnerved by his presence. She didn’t know whether to ignore or be bothered by his presence.
"Well, hello there," Aldric said, taking a step forward. Islinda quickly grabbed his arm and shook her head, her instincts screaming that the man before them was dangerous.
Aldric winked at her. "Don’t worry, he’s a friend."
"Huh?"
Islinda had a lot of questions, but Aldric patted her head, hinting for her to behave while he moved on to welcome his old friend.
"So glad you made it." Aldric pulled Azrael into an embrace. From their camaraderie, Islinda and Issac realized that the stranger was no threat, and they lowered their defenses.
"You did not exactly give me a choice," Azrael said, a bit of annoyance in his tone.
"What are friends for?" Aldric was unapologetically smug as he separated from him.
"Is she the one?" Azrael asked, tipping his head in Islinda’s direction.
"Yes, she is." Aldric announced proudly.
Call it strange, but Islinda could sense that both males shared a secret that she was not aware of.
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