The heavy door slammed shut behind them, sealing Evangeline and Damian in the cold room.
It was just the two of them now.
No Killian. No Aria. No barriers.
Evangeline stared at him, her jaw set, fingers curled into fists. Damian sat motionless, the faint rattle of his chains the only sound between them.
"You look different," he said, voice rough. "Harder. Like you've finally become who you were meant to be."
"Save it," she snapped. "You lost the right to small talk when you put a price on my head."
He chuckled, a low bitter sound. "Fair enough."
Silence stretched again, tense and electric.
Evangeline broke it. "Why me, Damian? Why did you use me?"
His eyes lifted to hers. "Because they told me to."
"That's not an answer."
"I didn't have a choice," he said quietly. "They had my sister. They said if I didn't get close to you, make you trust me, they'd kill her."
Evangeline blinked. "Sister? You never told me you had one."
"I didn't tell you a lot of things," he murmured.
Her voice trembled with rage. "And what—when you were in my bed, holding me, whispering lies—was that all part of the plan too?"
"No," he said, sharper now. "That was the only part that was real."
Evangeline swallowed the lump in her throat, hating how much it still hurt.
"Then why did you try to kill me?" she whispered.
Damian's face twisted. "Because the plan changed. The Executor said you were compromised. That you'd gotten too close to Killian. That you knew too much. I begged them to give me more time."
"You begged," she repeated hollowly.
"I tried to run," he said. "With you. That night at the gala. I wanted to disappear before they could get to you."
"You drugged me!" she snapped.
"I panicked!" Damian shouted. "I didn't know what else to do. I thought if I got you away from Killian, they'd spare you. But you woke up too soon. You fought back."
Her nails bit into her palms. "You're lucky I didn't kill you."
"I wish you had."
That stilled her.
He wasn't bluffing.
There was real sorrow in his voice now. Real weariness.
She crossed her arms, keeping her voice even. "If you want to make this right, start talking. Tell me everything."
Damian nodded slowly. "The Executor's name is Cael Varin. He's not just a strategist—he's a legacy. Born into the High Table. His family built the syndicate. He wants total control. That vote coming up? It's not just about Killian. It's about a full regime change."
Evangeline's brows furrowed. "Regime change?"
"He wants to wipe out every dissenter. That includes Killian, Aria, and anyone who's ever questioned the Table's rule. You… you're the pawn. If you vote with him, he'll use you to gain legitimacy."
"And if I don't?"
"Then he'll kill you. Slowly. Publicly. To send a message."
She stared at him, heart pounding. "How do I stop it?"
Damian met her gaze. "By giving him what he wants—until you're close enough to rip out his heart."
"You want me to play along."
He nodded. "They're watching everything. Every move you make. Even now, they probably know you're here. But if you give them a sliver of belief that you're considering joining them, you'll gain access they never planned to give."
Evangeline paced, thinking. "If I pretend to accept, I become a weapon."
"Exactly."
"But I need leverage."
Damian's voice dropped. "Cael has a list. Hidden names—people he's blackmailing, silencing, or grooming to replace current leadership. If you find that list, you'll break his power."
"Where is it?"
"Vaulted. Digitally encrypted. Biometrics only. But there's a backup," Damian said. "A failsafe only Cael's most trusted ally knows how to access."
"Who?"
His eyes flicked toward the door. "Aria."
Evangeline's heart skipped. "She's his ally?"
"She was," Damian corrected. "Once. Before Killian disappeared. Before Cael made a deal with the devil."
The door opened just then, and Aria stepped in, arms crossed, gaze unreadable.
"You told her," she said coolly.
"I did," Damian replied.
Aria glanced at Evangeline. "And you believe him?"
"I don't know what I believe yet," Evangeline said honestly. "But I do know we need that list."
Aria nodded. "Then I'll help you get it. But it's buried deep—inside the Garden."
Damian hissed. "You're insane."
"What's the Garden?" Evangeline asked.
"A fortress," Aria said. "Cael's private sanctuary. No one gets in without an invitation… or an offer he can't refuse."
Evangeline met her eyes. "Then we give him one."
Aria smiled, slow and dangerous. "You're learning."
Damian looked at her, something between pride and guilt in his gaze. "You're stronger than I thought."
Evangeline stepped closer to him. "Don't mistake strength for mercy. You still betrayed me. And when this is over, you'll answer for that."
Damian gave a single nod. "I wouldn't expect anything less."
Aria opened the door wider. "We leave at dawn. Rest while you can."
Evangeline lingered, watching Damian as he sagged against his restraints.
Then she turned and walked out—into the firestorm they were about to unleash.