The atmosphere inside the Velvet Cage had turned suffocating ever since Isolde vanished. Every one of Severin's men looked tense as hell anytime they had to face him—and they walked out of his office beaten to a pulp. Some didn't walk out at all. Their lifeless bodies were dragged out by the others, ready to be dumped into the underground.
Malric hadn't left the infirmary in days, deliberately avoiding any interaction with Severin, who now looked like he'd kill anyone just for breathing too loudly.
Severin had become volatile. On edge. Ever since the news of Isolde's disappearance started making its rounds among his men—even Tiffara had heard. While she was grateful that Isolde was finally gone, she was pissed to see Severin no longer resemble the composed, calculated man she admired.
