The heart demon fixed his gaze on Alaric, holding the silence so long it felt heavy and intentional. Then, out of nowhere, Hundao's lips twisted into a grin and a laugh slipped out, at first soft, almost friendly, but rising quickly into a deep, powerful roar that shook the trees and echoed through the woods.
The sudden noise startled flocks of birds into the sky and sent hidden animals running for cover through the underbrush. Even the breeze seemed to hesitate for a moment, as if the ancient forest could sense that something completely unnatural was happening among its trees.
