Commander Lan rarely flinched in the face of pressure. Years of leading the NSA had tempered him into someone who could remain calm through disasters, monster outbreaks, and even political storms.
But Claude's words dripped with poison, too potent not to notice and just enough to shadow the room in tense silence.
If the commander gave the wrong answer, I was certain Claude would make him cough blood, metaphorically. Another Seeker in the room would literally freeze him, and I wasn't entirely convinced the healer sitting next to him would be eager to help.
A strange warmth spread through my chest. Gratitude.
The three of them were ready to stand against anyone for my sake. There was no hesitation in their actions, no hidden agenda behind their support.
And I didn't need to doubt their intentions. I knew them. They sincerely wanted me to stay, not because I could send them back to their worlds, nor because I was useful to them. To them, I was already a family.
