Chapter 56
Sitting in the room now thickly veiled by the fog of cigar smoke, Dax smiled faintly. The glowing tip of the blunt cast a soft orange light across his sharp features, cutting through the hazy air like a small ember in the night.
"This is a special cigar made from my own lab," he said, voice low and unhurried. He took another deliberate drag, letting the smoke roll out slowly from his lips. It mingled with the lingering scent of fine wine, creating a heady, almost intoxicating atmosphere that wrapped around everyone present.
"It might help stabilize you for now." Dax turned his full gaze to Zain, eyes steady and expectant. "I only answer two questions."
Zain felt the words land like a challenge. For a single heartbeat he was stunned—the strict limit catching him off guard. But the hesitation vanished almost instantly. His shoulders squared, and resolve hardened in his dark eyes. He met Dax's stare without flinching.
