Daphne stepped out of her room, moving down the hall with that careful, measured pace. She almost collided with Xavier.
Their eyes met, just for a moment, and there was a spark—tension between despise and distain .
"How is her condition"
His eyes don't waver, they remain calm
Dephne 's gaze was cold, cutting. "Your job was just one thing—keep an eye. Not two, Just a single one. And you failed at that."
She paused, letting the words sink. "So yeah… back to your question. You are the least person who deserves to know how she's doing."
Xavier's apology was quiet. "I'm sorry."
. His jaw tightened ever so slightly. He didn't need to speak much. The weight of his gaze pressed down, as if he could see every second he lost, every glance he spared elsewhere.
Daphne's voice was clipped, daring. "Great. I'm sure that fixes everything… but you've got me wondering…" She tilted her head, eyes sharp
. "…what—or maybe who—could have stolen your attention at that moment?"
Xavier didn't flinch. Didn't respond. But the almost imperceptible narrowing of his eyes said more than words ever could.
Her gaze trails up and down, then she turn on her heel, heels clicking against the floor, leaving the hall tense and heavy, the unspoken accusation lingering in the air like smoke.
The door swung open. Augustin, the queen's trusted advisor, stepped aside, letting Xavier enter.
"Tell me," Augustin said without preamble, voice crisp. "How did Sameen get caught up in a Strigoi attack? "
Completely not interested about the part of who's fault it is.
"That makes two of us," he said evenly. "As much as I want to know what exactly happened, I'm… clueless. The answers we're looking for can only come from Sameen herself."
He didn't flinch under Augustin's scrutinizing gaze. There was no blame, no excuses—just controlled, unspoken frustration
Augustin's expression didn't change, but his eyes lingered.
Xavier's hands stayed loose at his sides, calm but taut, ready for anything, yet entirely aware that the truth was elsewhere.