Double Standard

Elias’s voice cut through in the tense air, his tone low, his gaze reflecting the storm inside. ‘The danger there is real, Callie. I can’t let you go.’ ‘Real danger?’ Callie’s lips twisted in defiance, her words dripping with stubbornness. ‘So, Kurtazagg’s border is a threat, but it’s okay for you, huh? Why the double standard?’ ‘Callie!’ Elias’s eyes bore into her, frustration etched on his face. ‘I’m bound by duty as a soldier. I follow orders, no questions asked. But you...’ He sighed, a touch of vulnerability slipping through. ‘You’re different.’ ‘Different how?’ Callie’s voice sharpened, her eyes locking onto his with determination. ‘Elias, you can’t just use your authority to keep me from Kurtazagg.’ ‘Yes, I can.’ His response was sharp, the word slicing through the charged atmosphere. ‘You’re not going. End of story.’ That finality struck Callie like a slap, stoking a fiery anger within her. She wrenched her hand away from his grasp, taking a step back. Why did she want this mis