chapter sixty five

Fury coiled within me, a desperate need to understand this madness. "What is your endgame here, Alexander?" I demanded, my voice surprisingly steady despite the tremor in my heart.

He met my gaze, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "It's simple, Annie," he drawled. "Damian dies."

The words hit me like a physical blow. The air seemed to thin, the candle flame flickering wildly in the sudden rush of despair. "No," I gasped, the word a desperate whisper. "You can't… you wouldn't."

A chilling laugh escaped his lips, devoid of humor. "Oh, I would, Annie. I've already set the wheels in motion. I've dropped little hints and whispers about your whereabouts. He'll come, desperate to save you, just like a lovesick fool." His smirk widened, a grotesque parody of his former charm. "But he must come alone."