Valerian turned a page in his book, pretending not to notice the way Evelyn was still watching him. But the weight of her gaze was impossible to ignore.

"Why so secretive, Cross?" she finally asked, her voice lilting with amusement. "We’re partners now. Isn’t it only right that we get to know each other?"

He didn’t even look up. "I don’t trust you enough to tell you anything." His voice was curt, detached. "You’re still a witch."

Evelyn chuckled, the sound smooth and knowing. "Really? And here I thought I was the mostreliablecreature you had right now." She rested her chin in her palm, a grin playing on her lips. "Say what you will about witches, but we don’tbetraylike you humans do."

That made him pause.

His grip on the book tightened slightly as his brow furrowed. There was something in the way she said it—something heavier, laced with an unspoken meaning.

He finally looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "What are youreallytrying to say, witch?"

Evelyn merely crossed her arms, leaning back comfortably against the carriage wall. "Oh, nothing much . . . Just pointing out an obvious contradiction."

Valerian narrowed his eyes.

She continued, her voice deceptively casual. "You blame witches for aiding vampires because they suddenly resist silver and heal faster, right?"

He exhaled slowly. "That’s the whole reason you’re here, isn’t it? The entire point of thispartnership?"

"True," she admitted, tilting her head. "But tell me, Valerian—why would witcheseverside with vampires? We don’t exactly get along. Werewolves and Lycans, either."

His silence made her smile wider.

"Think about it," she went on. "Werewolves have theirpride—their wholepack loyaltyandhonornonsense. Vampires? They’re arrogant pricks. Playful, reckless, and self-serving—kind of like witches, actually." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Now tell me, do those three seem like the type to suddenly put aside centuries of animosity andcooperate?"

The carriage rocked slightly as the wheels hit uneven ground, but Valerian barely noticed. His sharp amber eyes finally lifted from his book, studying her with new scrutiny.

Evelyn beamed. "But of course, Iknowyou’ve already thought of that. Right?"

He didn’t answer right away. His silence stretched between them, thick with consideration. Then, finally—

". . . Are you implying there’s atraitorin our midst?"

A slow knowing smile curve her lips. "Oh, come now, Valerian. Is thatreallyso hard to believe?" She leaned forward, voice dropping to a silky whisper. "Humansexcelat betrayal. It’s practically second nature to you."

She leaned back again, her smile playful, but her ashen eyes gleamed with something sharper.

"Especially in an organization asbigas CROSS."

Valerian closed his book with deliberate slowness, the subtle weight of finality in the gesture. His sharp gaze flickered toward Evelyn, eyes narrowing slightly.

"You’re implying someone insideCROSSis helping the vampires?" His voice was low, measured, but she could hear the edge of suspicion curling at the corners of his words.

Evelyn tilted her head, her ashen eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, I don’timply, Valerian. Istate." She gave a delicate shrug, her fingers idly tracing the embroidery on her sleeve. "If you were to take acarefullook at your inventories, you might notice some missing . . .potions. Maybe a fewtomes—the kind filled with things your kind isn’t supposed to know. And if you’rereallythorough, perhaps even a fewsecret blueprintsandrecipesmight have mysteriously walked out of your precious vaults."

Valerian inhaled deeply through his nose, his fingers tightening around the book in his lap. He didn’t speak immediately, but his gaze shifted toward the carriage window, his expression unreadable.

Good, Evelyn thought. He wasn’t dismissing her outright. That was all she needed.

Because once Valerian started digging, it would only be amatter of timebefore he discovered the missing items—before he found out aboutStephany’s betrayal.

Hisdarlingsister, sneaking into CROSS’ vaults, smuggling artifacts and knowledge she had no business handling. And for what?

Aman.

Avampire, no less.

Evelyn known about Lucien and Stephany’s littleromance. And she knew exactly how this story wassupposedto go.

Not this time.

She glanced at Valerian, watching the way his jaw clenched slightly as his mind worked through the implications. She could tell—he was already unraveling the possibilities, already deciding what to do next.

Good.

But she had to be careful.

If she told him outright that his beloved sister was meeting with a vampire, hewouldn’t believe her. Worse, it might drive him mad and kill her on the spot. He would chose to trust his sister over somewitch after all.

She refused to be the first to plant doubt in his heart against his beloved sister. Doing so would only strain their fragile, not-yet-budding relationship.

No, Evelyn had to let Valerianfind out on his own.

If he traced the stolen items back to Stephanyhimself, if he put the pieces together with his own hands,hewould be the one confronting her.

And when that moment came—when he saw the truth with his own eyes—

She wouldn’t be the one to blame.

Evelyn smirked, resting her chin in her palm as she watched Valerian brood by the window.

"You look troubled, Cross," she said, her voice a lazy drawl. "Perhaps Ishouldhave kept my mouth shut. It’s soexhaustingwatching you struggle with the concept of treachery."

He turned his head sharply, pinning her with an icy stare.

"Witches aren’t exactly known for their honesty," he said dryly.

She laughed, the sound rich and amused. "Oh, sweetheart.Humansare the ones who perfected the art of deception."

Valerian exhaled, pressing his fingers against his temple. "You have adeeplyirritating way of speaking."

"Thank you." Evelyn smiled, utterly unbothered.

Valerian shook his head and looked back out the window, his expression darkening as the wheels in his head turned.

Evelyn merely watched, satisfied.

Go on, Valerian. Find the trail. Follow it. And when you reach the truth . . .

She crossed her legs elegantly, her grin growing.

I’ll be waiting.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com