Kyle gently ran a gloved hand down Queen's back, and the hawk responded with a soft, pleased chirr, ruffling its feathers as if asking for more.
It tilted its head toward him, sharp golden eyes watching with unwavering loyalty.
The bond between them had deepened over time, and today, Kyle was going to take a dangerous step further.
"We're trying something new."
Kyle muttered, voice low and calm, almost like a whisper against the quiet night.
Queen let out a sharper sound this time—an affirmative response, as if it understood what was coming.
Kyle exhaled slowly, gathering his focus.
He reached out with his mana and touched the tether that bound him and Queen together.
Their connection flared to life, and for a second, it felt like a spark lighting inside his mind.
He activated the shared-sense link between them, something he had been working on but had never used for more than a few seconds.
This time, he'd push it to the limit.
