Warlock Ch 454. Shadow Latch
They ate in silence for a while. Polite. Calm. Normal.
Until the new drink came.
A shimmering amber liquor. House specialty. Rare. The server set it in front of Damian with a bow that was just a little too perfect.
Damian smiled and lifted the glass.
[Observe].
It shimmered faintly.
A spell was buried at the bottom of the cup—one designed to trigger a brief loss of control if exposed to a rage-afflicted mana field.
Damian stared at it for a moment.
Then he raised it in a toast.
"To our gracious hosts," he said.
Everyone around the table raised their glasses.
Damian tilted the cup.
Let a single drop touch his lips.
And then?
He smiled.
It wouldn't work.
Not anymore.
Because whatever they thought he was—
Whatever monster they wanted to unleash—
Damian Blackthorn was something far worse.
He was a man who saw through everything.
And he was done playing their game.
