Benedict's POV
The journey back to Ironfang stretched far longer than anticipated. My mind kept circling back to the unsettling way Bianca had concluded our discussion. The highways lay deserted at this late hour, save for the occasional freight truck rumbling past with cargo destined for places that held no interest for me. My headlights sliced through the black night, illuminating the painted road markers that vanished beneath my tires in steady succession.
Bianca's words echoed in my thoughts. That unshakeable confidence she'd displayed at the end troubled me deeply. The absolute certainty in her tone when she declared nothing would surface. As if she possessed knowledge I lacked. As if she held advantages she hadn't yet revealed.
Those who concealed information from me rarely remained in my employ for long. I understood perfectly that secrets held power, but I insisted on controlling that power myself.
