odsthey''''''''dfortoherbefore.
Atleastwhenitwasover,shecouldslowlygatherthefadingtraces,sgingwispsofwarmthtofillthehollowaside.
Butthisdrip-fedreliefwasagonizinglyslow.
InstinctscreamedatReyatotakeitaltoeuntiltheemptinessshattered.Anewhungerawokeinher,primandravenous,coilingthroughherbodylikeariptideinpitch-bckwaters.Itsurgedwithaforcethatthreateodevoureverything.
Finally,asbothmengrewsluggish,theirmovementsheavywithexhaustion,Reya''''''''spatienapped.
Thepowershifted.
Nolohetremblingprey,sheseizedtrol,herhandsnowsteeringtheirbodieslikeapuppeteerregherstrings.Whathadbeentheirgamebecameherfeedingground.
Cowasshockedbyhersuddehusiasm.Shehadbeenpassivebefore,tentativefrominexperienowshemovedwithahuhatseemedtowanttoehim.
Maybethelittlewomanwasn''''''''tasnaiveassheseemed.
ReyakeptkissingSilverRing,butwithhereyesclosed,shesawtheirauras—twoglowingesilhouettesinthedark.
WhereherbodyjoihCo,thecolorfredbrightest.
Shechedtight—
Agutturalgroantorefromtheman''''''''sthroatascolorfulfireworksdetonatedinsideher,sendingprismaticshockwavesalongeverynerve.
Invisiblethreadsofenergyiuggedinsistently,pulling,drawing,ing.
Cofelthimselfattheedge,uoresist,asthoughhundredsoftinymouthswithinheringhimdry.
Somethingwasoff.Hetriedtocallout—
Butnosoundcame.
SilverRing,lostinReya''''''''skiss,remainedunaware.
Then—
Snap.
Asoundlikeathreadbreaking.
Reyarexedhergrip.
Inthedarkness,onlyeglowremained.