Daphne's POV
The door clicked shut behind Xander, leaving me staring at the empty space where he'd stood. The room felt hollow, like all the air had been sucked out with his departure.
Mother and Grandmother returned, their footsteps echoing against the sterile hospital floor. The atmosphere shifted immediately, becoming dense and oppressive.
"What did you two discuss?" Mother's voice cut through the quiet.
The truth burned on my lips like poison. Your precious savior is completely obsessed with Lyra. I could picture their reactions perfectly—the horror creeping across their faces, watching Grandmother's elaborate schemes crumble to dust.
Instead, I swallowed the words.
"What exactly did you offer the Azure of the Valley in exchange for their assistance?" I demanded.
Grandmother's face became a stone mask. "That's not your concern."
She moved to the bedside table where Xander had left his card. The gold embossing glinted as she lifted it, examining it with clinical interest.
