te

ped inside. A guard, standing ramrod straight, h

without even glancing at

pressionless, then s

ry that I couldn't quite direct. My heart pounded in my chest.

"Why her? Why to

e ferocity of his stare was shackles around my body. He

cutting deep. "But let me make one thing certain: if you're here to fight me, we're both wasting our time."

ring the distance between us. And then, slowly,

his tone colder now, more distant. "But we

ich remained w

g else. Couldn't. The

ay? What was th

his moves. And I was merely a p

helpless, unable to make another move. The game

t. Normally, he walked in like a damn hurricane-strong, authoritative, confident. Today, not so mu

im like that befor

nce between us was thick and heavy, like a

slicing. I didn't have any use for sweet talk or nice word

ight away, as if he was still trying to piece together what had happened, what had ev

know, Lord Dante

stone between us. "You were meant to ensure that everything went without a hitch. W

when she left. But. when she came back, something was not right." He hesitated, his eyes slightly squinting as if he was trying to untangle the mess in his own head. "I don't know when or

o overcome me. "You are telling me you have no idea wha

ure she was okay and that everything was okay." I could feel the

not. He simpl

m answer questions he quite obviously didn't have. But something in his eyes, something

on before I could lose it, his voic

lying edge to it that demanded respect. He'd screamed for only one r

spoken anger in his tone made the room shrink in. "This was your job, and you've allowed it to slip right thr

pted his own defeat. "I do, Lord Volmore," he replied softly. "I. I wil

to be afraid of is what you do from now on." His eyes flashed to me, and I could feel the weight of his words strike me like something physical. "This

teeth clenched. "Y

. If you're here to fight with me, to accuse or to have a tantrum, then you're wasting your

urface. But I knew he was right. I was angry. But anger wasn't going

asked, my voice gentler

"We find out who did this to us and why. And you" he nodded at Enoch,

ded again

from both of us. "Then we'll fix this. But for

. The man they

uch it hurt to hear him speak that way, knew how much he was pus