Ilkar stopped mid-step. Slowly, almost mechanically, he turned toward Eiravyne.
His golden eyes locked onto hers.
He didn't speak. He simply stared. One second. Then another.
The silence stretched until it became unbearable.
No one in the room dared to move.
Karl held his breath.Even Ilomina remained frozen.
Ilkar's jaw flexed once.
He took a deliberate step toward the bed, his composure giving way to raw fury.
"What did you say?" he asked quietly.
His voice was calm, but only on the surface. Beneath it was a rage .
"Say it again."
His stare never left her, as though daring her to repeat the words .
Eiravyne had managed to pull herself into a sitting position, though every movement left her trembling.
She couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes.
Instead, she stared at her own hands, her fingers twisting weakly in her lap.
A long silence passed before she finally spoke.
"I... w-was..." she whispered. Her voice faltered.
She swallowed hard and tried again.
