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burn brighter.
    “Why does it matter? You’re free now. Shouldn’t you be leaving?” As he walked next to her, Rhuul couldn’t figure out why he himself wasn’t leaving.
    She stopped in her tracks, burning a path to his soul with her heated glare. “If these Corri make their own way gate, they could travel to the other realms whenever they pleased. My people exist in those other realms too. I won’t let these thugs move from world to world, robbing us of our history with their own personal escape route.” She took a step closer, the flames of her hair whipping as if in a cyclone. “You don’t have to stay, Rhuul.”
    “Most people would say, ‘thank youfor your help.’ You’ve got a strange way of showing gratitude.” He stared deep into her eyes, losing himself despite the words he’d spoken.
    “I’m not going anywhere, hot stuff. Lead the way!” Talloc rolled his shoulders and plastered on a wide smile.
    “Talloc, I’m curious about something. Have you ever seen the point of a sword as it protruded from your belly?” Rhuul watched the Bruna out of the corners of his eyes, sizing him up.
    “Uh, no.”
    “You’re about to.” He lifted his wings, gripping his weapons.
    “Rhuul, seriously, you need to see someone about your … what’s the best word for this? Insanity.” Talloc ran a hand over his head and chuckled. “Ooh, look!” The Bruna changed forms, morphing into the large rodent he spotted scurrying up ahead.
    Rhuul sighed and twirled his swords. “Let’s get this over with.”
    “Oh? You’ve decided to stay after all?” She was actually smirking, making him want to slap her hard on her perfectly rounded ass.
    “Don’t push it.” His own smile returned, only this time, it took longer to wipe it away. They turned a corner, coming face-to-face with three Corri. He lunged forward, eyeing two of the men.
    “Rhuul, stop!” She surrounded the Corri with a wall of flames before large vines burst from the ground within the fiery barrier, entangling the potential attackers, holding them in place.
    The vines released a yellow mist, and to his surprise, the three Corri lost consciousness. The plants retreated, leaving the men sprawled on the floor.
    “That was pretty impressive!” Talloc was an Omala again. He stood over the Corri, poking them before taking each of their forms.
    Rhuul narrowed his eyes at Avalea, frustration creeping up the back of his neck in the form of heat. “That was interesting, but not very smart. When they wake up, they could come after you. You’ll always have enemies if you let them survive to tell the tale.”
    “Maybe you don’t know much about Omala, but we revere life. We rejoice in it, protect it. There’s no reason to kill these men.” She didn’t look at him; instead, she continued on, her arms outstretched.
    “These Corri have no problem rejoicing in your death. This courtesy you’re extending won’t be returned. So why spare them?”
    “Because just like me, they are someone’s children, someone’s family. There’s at least one person hoping they’ll come home, and I won’t disappoint them. You don’t have to kill in order to get your way.” She turned another corner, quickening her pace. “This way. I can sense the magic.”
    He watched her dispatch two more groups of Corri, resisting the urge to lop off their heads while they slept. “This makes no sense. She should just let me kill them all and be done with it. Some people just need to be destroyed, simple as that.” He grumbled under his breath and followed along.
    They entered a large, circular room. There was no furniture, and no torches. They weren’t needed. The light of the partially formed way gate lit up the space in a splash of bright blue luminescence. It looked unstable, but there was no mistaking what it was.
    Avalea extended her arms forward. Balls of green flames appeared in her hands, creating a crackling sound.
    “Wait.” He stepped in front of her and held her