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“Arkane, it-it’s not what yo-you think,” she whispered, her pale-blue eyes dashing between Arkane and Killian back and forth and back and forth again. There was a certain tremble in her voice as she cowered in the corner, pulling the sheets to cover her modesty.

Arkane didn’t even bother acknowledging her as his eyes shifted to Killian. “No wonder you were able to steal the Renegade shipment from us years ago.”

“Busted,” Killian said offhandedly, waving his gun. “What are you going to do about it?”

“I don’t give a fuck,” Arkane replied in a lethal tone. His gun was still pointed at Killian’s head. I knew for a fact that both men would be dead if they decided to shoot. The air around them felt too dangerous to even approach.

“Timothy Walters said you would be here,” I cut in, my eyes on Killian. “He said you would be meeting someone important.” I didn’t mention who. All I knew was there was a traitor, but I didn’t know the extent of their relationship with the Covent, and everything I knew about the Covent was close to nothing. What I knew was what Arkane and the Twins Daily told me, and that they liked to randomly cause sick trouble in the city.

“Timothy fucking who?” Killian yelled in confusion before it finally clicked, and out came his high-pitched laugh. “That fucker, Harvey’s brother?”

“Yes.”

A look of disbelief crossed his face. “He fucking thought to snitch on me? I’ll end that fucker, right fucking now.” He tried to reach for his phone, but Arkane’s warning stopped him in his tracks. “Don’t move an inch, or there will be a bullet eating your brain,” Arkane said in a low tone.

It only made Killian laugh harder, and he instead took two steps forward, pointing the gun at Arkane’s face, who didn’t even blink at his advance.

I sighed internally at the situation as I tried to figure out what was actually going on here. Timothy Walters was right about Killian coming here—only he wasn’t meeting the traitor, but a woman?

Partial truths did tell a better story than a complete lie. But why?

I took a step toward them. “It appears Timothy Walters lied. It’s best we find out why, rather than wasting our time arguing with each other. It could be a matter of life or death.”

Two men still stood staring at each other in anger, but after a moment, Arkane and Killian both nodded, stepping back. They both dropped their gun hand to their side but still kept a tight grip on it, and I didn’t let go of my blades either.

“Tell me everything,” Killian demanded.

Arkane told him what Timothy Walters had told us, and I took the opportunity to take in the woman Arkane called Alanna. She had since put on a shirt, and her attention was focused on Arkane. Although her lips were thinned in fear, her eyes held a lustful admiration as she watched him. I didn’t know if I liked that.

She was what one would call conventionally model-type pretty, with strawberry-blond hair and long legs. Was that the type of woman Arkane liked? I had no idea about the extent of their relationship, but it was quite obvious from the looks she stole of him that she wanted him.

Killian laughed, shaking his head when Arkane finished. “And what, like I fucking want a weapon I don’t even know how to use? Can’t believe you believed that fucker.”

“I didn’t,” Arkane gritted out.

Killian grinned, leaning against the wall. “But you did because you’re desperate, aren’t you?” he mocked. “Desperate to find the traitor who’s fucking you behind your back.”

Arkane remained unaffected by his words and smiled instead. “I will find him. Don’t worry, I’ll also make sure that his grave is next to yours.”

Killian started with his brassy laugh once again. Although he was laughing, his eyes were as indifferent as a psychopath’s. “You wish, cousin, you wish. By the way, you and I both know I didn’t kill Harvey Walters.”

“It was me,” I said calmly, meeting Killian’s dead blue eyes.

Killian whistled, eyeing me up and down. “You’re not so innocent, are you, little Miss Stuck-up? I don’t give a fuck about Harvey Walters’s life, but messing with the Covent will have serious consequences for you, Valerian bitches. Don’t forget that.” The tone of his lifeless voice suggested he was indeed serious.

“I wasn’t a Valerian when I killed Harvey Walters,” I replied, not losing my calm tone. “I was simply Bellerose Esteal.”

A curious confusion crossed his cold eyes, but before he could say anything, Arkane interrupted. “Want to tell me why you’re here so I can get the fuck out?”

Killian rolled his eyes at Arkane. “I come here every Monday night to see Alanna.” His eyes turned to her. “Isn’t that right, darling?”

A swallow worked through her throat before she nodded frantically. She darted her eyes to Arkane like she needed some kind of validation, but he outright ignored her presence.

Arkane narrowed his eyes. “Nothing else?”

“You think I’m dumb enough to do important shit in the Rose fucking Ellen?” Killian countered with a scoff and dropped himself on the bed, relaxing back against the headboard.

Before Arkane could say another word, the door burst open. And before I could even raise my blades, Arkane pulled me behind his back, and Killian was on his feet once again, cursing, as all guns pointed at the door.