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Chapter 12: The Betrayer

Author: Sydirae
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-19 00:12:23

There are moments when the air holds its breath. Like even the sky is waiting to see what you'll do.

That was the kind of moment I walked into.

The hallway was dim, quiet. Not the calm kind. More like the sharp, waiting kind, like right before lightning strikes.

I was coming from the study, the warning note from the grave still folded in my jacket pocket. Matteo hadn’t said much after reading it. He didn’t need to. The silence he left me with was heavier than any answer.

I turned the corner toward the west wing. I wasn’t even sure why I was going there. Maybe to think. Maybe to escape the thoughts already crawling under my skin.

I didn’t see him at first.

Lorenzo.

He was standing near the window, back turned, one hand resting on the sill, the other holding something small. Something that caught the light.

I paused.

The instinct to walk away came too late.

He turned.

Not slow. Not fast. Just intentional.

Our eyes met. His face didn’t shift. Not a single twitch of guilt. Not even curios
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