Lyra's POV
The silence that filled the room felt heavy, like a living thing pressing down on all of us.
Silas pivoted to face me completely. His hands dropped to his sides, motionless. His shoulders straightened into a rigid line. When he finally spoke, his voice cut through the air like ice.
"Are you accusing me of treason?"
My grip tightened around the bottle until my knuckles turned bone white against the dark glass.
"I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I'm simply telling you what's inside this bottle."
Rowena rose from her chair with careful movements. She didn't step closer to us. Instead, she remained where she was, her hand clutching the armrest so tightly I could see the strain in her fingers.
"Do not antagonize her, Silas."
