<span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99">Ayla’s breath caught in her throat as he touched her hair, flinching, her eyes tightly closed as her body shook, as though fighting the urge to burst into tears or scream. Slowly, whether from his words or her own strength of will, she calmed, swallowing the knot in her throat, all the while her eyes were locked tightly with her brother’s, as though the two were reaching out to each other in some way, instinctively communicating without words.<br/>
</span><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#99ffcc">Alexi as well, slowly unclenched his fists, taking in a slow deep breath. Watching the two siblings was like staring at someone while they were looking in a mirror. Even their breathing perfectly matched. The man of Dimir had made up his mind, and there was no fighting it. Neither of them, even combined, had the power to overcome him. He’d proven that with a flick of his wrist.</span><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#4dffa6"> &lt;there… there are benefits to working for house Dimir… If we play this carefully, we can turn this to our favor.&gt;</span></i><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99"></span><br/><i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#a6ff4d">&lt;matching set. And yet somehow i don’t think it’s my magic he’s after…&gt;</span></i><span class="fixed-color" style="color:#ccff99"> she watched her brother’s eyes narrow, but neither was stupid enough to make another attempt to escape, even as their father stayed cowered behind his desk. </span>