"How did you do that?"
Rhian didn't hide his confusion. Controlling shadows was second nature to him now. Few people ever noticed it happening, and even fewer could resist it.
The only person who had ever given him consistent trouble was Miss Liane, and even then, it was more because of who she was than what she could do.
But this was different.
This was the first time someone had broken his control mid-use. Not passively resisted, not dodged or blocked, but shut it down. Directly.
Nia didn't look worried. She just smirked.
"How about a bet?"
Rhian raised an eyebrow. "A bet?"
"If you beat me," she said, pointing a thumb at her chest, "I'll tell you what you want to know."
"And if you win?" he asked, already suspicious.
Her grin widened. "Then you owe me a favor. Anything I ask, within reason."
Rhian crossed his arms, thinking it over. She was serious. Confident, too. Whatever had changed her, it had pushed her to a new level.
Still, he wasn't one to back down.
