Delphine pushed herself up from the floor. Her movements shaky. Unsteady.
Her face was streaked. Eyes red-rimmed.
"Please—" Her voice cracked. She swallowed hard. Tried again. "Please, my lord. We'll do anything. Just, please don't report us. We can't—"
She couldn't finish. The words stuck in her throat.
Teryn had managed to sit up now. His own face pale as death.
Meanwhile Alaric just kept studying the documents in his hands. His expression thoughtful.
This... could actually work.
His mind turned over the possibilities. Fast. Calculating.
I need to undermine Valtair's operations. Create chaos in his supply chains.
I'd need intermediaries I could trust not to trace back to me.
His eyes lifted. Tracked between the two terrified merchants.
And these two... they're already criminals. Already skilled at forgery and deception.
And now they're completely compromised. Desperate. Controllable.
The smirk widened slightly.
Perfect.
