Lucian stood and looked Xavier in the eyes, "Where's Rayne?"
“I gave them her last known direction,” Xavier continued, admiring his nails like he was commenting on the weather. “Told them she was a rogue deserter. Said she needed to be contained. Of course, I left out a few details—like how she’s unarmed, alone, and banished for an identity crime.”
Lucian stepped forward, fists clenched. “You bastard—”
“She could die out there,” Xavier said smoothly. “And no one will know who she was. No one will care. The Council’s already wiped her from the records. As far as they’re concerned, Rei Valen or Rayne Valen never existed.”
Lucian’s heart pounded, each beat a war drum in his chest.
“What do you want?” he growled.
Xavier’s grin stretched cruel and confident.
“Forfeit.”
Lucian stared har
