A Tantalizing Offer

"It would happen!" Valerie growled aggressively, his voice laced with a fierce determination that caught Islinda off guard. She instinctively took a step back, startled by the sudden intensity of his outburst. 

"What?" Islinda gulped, her voice quivering with a mixture of surprise and apprehension. 

Valerie's power seemed to surge causing the temperature in the room to rise abruptly, enveloping Islinda in an oppressive heat that made her skin prickle with discomfort. Sweat beads formed on her forehead, and she instinctively raised a hand to fan herself, only to freeze as Valerie's sudden movement caught her unprepared.