( . . . ) [ pain lanced through her ribs where the fall had bruised her, but she refused to falter. not in the presence of this shadow-clad figure who watched her from the abyss. the weight of his gaze pressed against her like a storm, but reyne did not flinch. her eyes, fierce and ancient, lifted to meet his. the darkness clung to him, but she had faced darker things. she knew the taste of shadows well. reyne's breath steadied, the ache in her ribs now a distant thing. she rose in a single fluid motion, wings folding tight against her back, her midnight leathers still bearing the scars of her fall. the sword in her grip-slender, wicked, crafted from fae-forged steel— glinted in the pale light as her knuckles flexed.
her head lifted slowly, revealing sharp features that seemed carved from starlight and shadow, her silver hair framing a face that was equal parts ethereal and fierce. a disbelieved scoff passed her lips . ] your sleep? [ she echoed, her voice low, carrying the lilting cadence of the fae but tempered with steel. ] it seems your rest has made you forget these lands belong to no one , bloodsucker . they are certainly not forbidden to me .
[ his question caused an uncomfortable knot to tighten in her gut . she remained still , never turning her back on the stranger . ]