Chains of Vengeance

Chapter 170: Reflection

Narinder looked closely at the ram, his gaze scanning every detail. Something about the way he still wore those rags bothered him deeply. It wasn't just the disheveled appearance, but the fact that Ramael hadn't accepted the royal blue cloak Narinder had made for him. He wanted to see him in it, he wanted him to wear it with pride, he wanted him to look like someone worthy, not like a fugitive.

Still, despite those worn rags, he couldn't deny how attractive he found him. The firmness of his posture, the intensity of his gaze, the slight trembling of his hands that he tried to hide... Everything about him aroused in Narinder a strange mix of desire, fascination and a pang of obsession.

For his part, Ramael could feel Narinder's gaze like sharp blades on his skin. His instinct screamed that the feline was judging him, measuring every part of him. "Is he on alert in case I try something?" he thought, feeling his own body tense. "I can feel him staring at me... I mustn't make any sudden moves."

He took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure, and locked eyes with Narinder.

"You have my blue crown, don't you?" he asked, his voice firm but with a slight tremor beneath.

Narinder, internally pleased that Ramael had finally spoken to him, showed no outward reaction. He kept his demeanor serene, his golden gaze unchanging.

"Yes, I do," he replied calmly.

Ramael felt a knot in his stomach. He swallowed before asking the question that troubled him the most.

"What do you plan to do with my crown?"

He had tried to sound defiant, but he couldn't keep a hint of fear from seeping into his voice. He didn't know what Narinder would say, but he feared it would be something terrible.

Narinder blinked slowly. In other circumstances, he would have responded with sarcasm or disdain, something like, "What do you care?" or "It's part of a future plan." But with Ramael... He didn't want to yell at him. He didn't want to lie to him.

So he simply told the truth.

"I don't know yet."

Ramael looked at him in surprise. He hadn't expected such an honest answer, nor one so devoid of ulterior motives. For the first time, he felt that Narinder was not simply a dangerous adversary, but someone more complex than he imagined.

Ramael took a calming breath again, making sure his voice didn't tremble before he spoke.

"I know you sealed the bishops in the Veil, but... did you really torture them to obtain the information about their relics?"

The question fell like a hammer.

Narinder blinked in surprise. He hadn't expected that.

"What are you saying?" he blurted out, almost without thinking.

But Ramael didn't hesitate.

"Didn't Leshy trade the information about her relic for the resurrection of a cat? Which you promised and broke the promise by not fulfilling it."

Narinder gritted his teeth. "How the hell did she find out about that?" He felt a chill run down his spine. He wasn't bothered by what he had done—he justified his actions as necessary—but he was uncomfortable with Ramael knowing. He didn't want the ram to see him as a monster.

"And what about Heket?" Ramael continued, without giving him a break. "Didn't you make her so hungry... so that in the end you wouldn't even give her a decent plate of food before sealing her?"

Narinder's eyes widened. "This is ridiculous..." he realized that giving the ram time to calm down had been a mistake. A grave mistake. He had taken the opportunity to investigate.