Derek remained quiet, his fingers tapping once against his arm before he spoke.
"I want the boy."
That drew all their attention.
Sylna smirked faintly. "Of course you do."
"He should not remain under Silvia," Derek continued, ignoring her tone. "With proper guidance, he could..."
"He could become yours," Sylna interrupted smoothly.
Derek didn't deny it.
Karesh leaned back, exhaling sharply. "Then we take him."
Caron's gaze darkened slightly. "You're speaking too loosely."
"We're speaking reality," Karesh replied. "If Silvia refuses to cooperate, we escalate."
Sylna tilted her head slightly. "And how far are you willing to go?"
Karesh opened his mouth, but he paused. His expression shifted as something flickered in his eyes. Then he spoke again, slower this time.
"What if Silvia has finally decided to stop going lowkey?" The words landed heavier than anything said so far. The air changed.
