Aeris’s pov
Nathaniel’s words lingered in the air, thick and suffocating. My mind raced, but my expression remained calm—a trick I had mastered long ago in the royal courts. Still, there was no mistaking the weight of his statement. The man was far more dangerous than I had anticipated, not because of the rebellion, but because he was always two steps ahead.
I couldn’t let him know how deep his words were. Not yet.
I took a slow, deliberate breath, holding his gaze as I replied, “I came here for answers, not your riddles. You may think you can manipulate the situation, Nathaniel, but I’ll have you know—this game isn’t yours to win.” My voice was steady, but the threat was unmistakable.
He leaned back in his throne, his amusement now tinged with something sharper, more calculated. “Oh,
