[Warehouse—Valemire Forest—The Next Day—Evelina's POV]
"Mmmfff—!" The sound hit first.
Muffled. Wet. Desperate.
It bounced off the metal walls of the warehouse like a dying echo as the doors groaned open. The hinges screamed in protest, and cold forest air spilled inside—sharp, damp, and carrying the scent of rust and old oil.
We stepped in.
Cassian Vinter was tied to a chair at the center of the space.
Ropes dug deep into his wrists and ankles, biting skin raw. A thick black cloth was wrapped around his head, knotted tight at the back, swallowing his face whole. His body thrashed uselessly, muscles jerking in fury and panic, boots scraping against the concrete.
"Mmmffff—mmmf!"
I stopped walking. For a long moment, I just… looked, and then I smiled.
"What a beautiful scene," I said softly.
Theo's low chuckle slid through the air like a blade being drawn. Rowan stood a step behind me, silent, watchful—but I could feel his gaze on me, measuring, steady.
