"Unfortunately," he said, sounding almost apologetic, "you're going to have to put your little murder plan on hold."
I frowned at him but didn't speak as I studied him.
'Why would he protect Damian?'
He didn't look like the loyal type. He looked like the type who'd sell someone for entertainment value.
He grinned wider, clearly enjoying the confusion flickering across my face.
"You see," he continued casually, "I stole his scroll."
My brows pulled together.
"And used it instead of him."
"…What?"
For a second, the world felt off-balance.
That wasn't right.
That wasn't how this was supposed to go.
Damian was supposed to be here. He was supposed to enter this platform at this exact point in the story.
This deviation—
It was because of this man.
"You know," he went on, tapping his temple thoughtfully, "his scroll. The gold one? Very flashy. Very important-looking that I couldn't resist and stole it from him."
