613 James knocked softly on Lady Margaret's door, the urgency in his steps evident even before he spoke. “My lady,” he called quietly but firmly, his voice cutting through the stillness of the night. Margaret, half-asleep, stirred at the sound. “James?” she called groggily, pushing herself up onto
614 Margaret glanced briefly at James, who lingered near the door before turning her attention back to Maelstrom. “The last time we spoke, you said you had a lead on the Oakbar brothers. I assumed you would call me when you had more information.” “I did say that,” Maelstrom agreed, his voice silky
615 Margaret’s gaze lingered on the heavy doors Maelstrom had vanished through, her thoughts swirling like a tempest. His cryptic warnings were always laced with just enough truth to keep her on edge. The Oakbar brothers. The mere mention of their name sent a shiver down her spine. James, ever th
616 The tavern was stifling now. Margaret felt the air weigh down on her as the group of men continued to stare, their gazes thick with both interest and malice. James shifted, his expression darkening. “My lady, they’re staring again.” Margaret’s lips thinned, her eyes sweeping over the men. She didn’t look away even when one of them caught her gaze. The wiry man with the crooked nose was the first to speak. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves some nobles slumming it tonight,” he said loudly, his voice dripping with mockery. Margaret arched an eyebrow, calm and unshaken. “Is that supposed to impress anyone?” The man blinked, momentarily thrown off by her cold composure. His companion wasn’t as hesitant. “You lose your way, pretty lady?” he jeered. “Or you come here lookin’ for somethin’ else?” Margaret didn’t answer immediately, her gaze pinning the man like a bug under glass. But James stepped in, his voice low and dangerous. “Watch your tongue, cur, unless you’d like to swallow i
617 “Why not?” Margaret demanded. Archer swallowed hard. He leaned in, so close that Margaret could smell the stale beer on his breath. His voice was barely audible. “Because they are very dangerous now.” James frowned, his grip on the hilt of his blade tightening. “What do you mean by that?” Ar
618 Crow studied her for a long, still moment. Margaret fought the urge to shift under his piercing stare. At last, he nodded to himself. “Very well. The Oakbars are hiding in the ruins of Greystone Manor.” Margaret’s breath caught for half a second. “Greystone?” “Did I stutter?” Crow’s smirk ret
619 Margaret’s fingers tightened into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. Her chest heaved with every breath as she glared up at the two figures on the staircase. “What have you done to yourselves?” she demanded, her voice trembling with fury. Felix chuckled, his hollow, glowing
620 Felix and Zayne exchanged a glance, the cold amusement returning to their faces. Then they burst into laughter, the sound cruel and inhuman. It echoed through the grand hall, bouncing off the high walls and lingering like a chill in the air. James stiffened at the sound, his hand tightening ar
624 Margaret’s sneer faltered. Her arms fell to her sides, her knuckles white where her fists had been clenched. She opened her mouth, hesitated, and then closed it again. “Margaret,” Micah said, stepping closer now. “If you don’t tell us what’s going on, you’re not just failing her—you’re abandon
623 Felix moved faster this time, grabbing Zayne’s wrist in a tight grip and yanking him back. “Stop it,” Felix said sharply, his voice full of authority. “This isn’t helping.” Zayne’s chest heaved as he glared at Margaret, his fury barely contained. “She knows something,” he spat, his voice a low
622 Margaret didn’t move. She stood her ground, her icy gaze fixed on Zayne. “And what if I don’t?” she asked, her voice low and full of challenge. “What are you going to do, Zayne? Yell at me some more? Hit me? Is that what you want?” Zayne’s body went rigid, his hand twitching at his side as tho
621 Margaret didn’t flinch. In fact, she lifted her chin, her expression cold and mocking. “You heard me,” she said, her voice thick with contempt. “Zoe had more sense than all of you put together. At least she had the courage to leave before your family’s rot consumed her too.” Zayne froze, his m
Zayne snarled, his chest heaving with anger. He spun on his heel, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, the veins standing out against his skin. He could feel the blood rushing in his ears. “She struck me!” he shouted, voice cracking with fury. “You think I’ll let that go? You thi
620 Felix and Zayne exchanged a glance, the cold amusement returning to their faces. Then they burst into laughter, the sound cruel and inhuman. It echoed through the grand hall, bouncing off the high walls and lingering like a chill in the air. James stiffened at the sound, his hand tightening ar
619 Margaret’s fingers tightened into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. Her chest heaved with every breath as she glared up at the two figures on the staircase. “What have you done to yourselves?” she demanded, her voice trembling with fury. Felix chuckled, his hollow, glowing
618 Crow studied her for a long, still moment. Margaret fought the urge to shift under his piercing stare. At last, he nodded to himself. “Very well. The Oakbars are hiding in the ruins of Greystone Manor.” Margaret’s breath caught for half a second. “Greystone?” “Did I stutter?” Crow’s smirk ret
617 “Why not?” Margaret demanded. Archer swallowed hard. He leaned in, so close that Margaret could smell the stale beer on his breath. His voice was barely audible. “Because they are very dangerous now.” James frowned, his grip on the hilt of his blade tightening. “What do you mean by that?” Ar