We waited for Devran to continue. He had taken a step away from Scarlette, but his eyes hadn't left her—not for a second. His breathing was just a little too slow, too deliberate, like someone trying to steady themselves.
The silence thickened around us.
Lumera inched forward, her hands clenched at her sides.
"Speak," I ordered, my voice firm, slicing through the tension.
Devran's lips twitched, as though debating whether to give us the whole story or just enough to send us chasing shadows.
"A few years ago," he began, his gaze distant, "there was a sudden surge in demand for the Midnight Orchid on the black market. It happened out of nowhere."
His eyes flicked toward me.
"No one knew how it started… especially since you banned it."
"It was a dangerous plant. I had to ban it." My voice came out sharper than I expected.
