Chapter 255

Evelyn's fingertips turned cold.

She stared at Silas's contorted face, suddenly finding him utterly unrecognizable. The hidden forces at play were far more extensive than she'd imagined. The men in black and Silas were merely the tip of the iceberg.

How many pairs of greedy eyes lurked beneath the glow of the Divine Elixir?

"Why?"

Her voice was soft, yet it sliced through the silence like a blade. Silas's gaze shifted away from Sebastian, his lips twisting into a grotesque smirk.

"Orders?" He scoffed. "Still so naive, Miss Roland."

Sebastian remained in the shadows, his long fingers toying with a silver lighter. The flickering flame cast sharp angles across his face. He didn't even glance at Silas's provocation.

The indifference enraged Silas.

"Sebastian Valdemar!" He yanked against his chains, blood welling around his wrists. "Stop pretending you're innocent!"

Evelyn's pulse jumped. She'd never seen Silas like this—a wounded beast, his eyes burning with visceral hatred.

"Do we know each other?" Sebastian finally spoke, genuine confusion lacing his tone.

Silas burst into laughter, the sound grating and hollow.

"Karma..." He glared at Sebastian. "Just wait and see."

Instinctively, Evelyn stepped closer to Sebastian. The faint scent of cedarwood from him inexplicably calmed her.

"Explain." She pressed a hand to Silas's trembling shoulder. "What's really going on?"

His pupils contracted violently. His lips moved soundlessly before twisting into another cold sneer.

The air in the room thickened. Evelyn noticed something unsettling—when Silas looked at Sebastian, beneath the hatred, there was... fear?

The realization sent a chill down her spine.

"Someone's using you," she said gently. "Don't be their pawn."

For a fleeting moment, Silas's expression wavered. Then the darkness returned. He turned his face away, refusing to speak.

Sebastian snapped his lighter shut. The metallic click echoed sharply in the silence.

"Investigate."

A single word, yet it made Evelyn's heart pound.

What storms lay hidden behind that command?