The Villains Must Win-Chapter 96: Valerian Cross 16

Valerian turned a page in his book, pretending not to notice the way Evelyn was still watching him. But the weight of her gaze was impossible to ignore.

"Why so secretive, Cross?" she finally asked, her voice lilting with amusement. "We’re partners now. Isn’t it only right that we get to know each other?"

He didn’t even look up. "I don’t trust you enough to tell you anything." His voice was curt, detached. "You’re still a witch."

Evelyn chuckled, the sound smooth and knowing. "Really? And here I thought I was the most reliable creature you had right now." She rested her chin in her palm, a grin playing on her lips. "Say what you will about witches, but we don’t betray like you humans do."

That made him pause.

His grip on the book tightened slightly as his brow furrowed. There was something in the way she said it—something heavier, laced with an unspoken meaning.

He finally looked up, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "What are you really trying to say, witch?"

Evelyn merely crossed her arms, leaning back comfortably against the carriage wall. "Oh, nothing much . . . Just pointing out an obvious contradiction."

Valerian narrowed his eyes.

She continued, her voice deceptively casual. "You blame witches for aiding vampires because they suddenly resist silver and heal faster, right?"

He exhaled slowly. "That’s the whole reason you’re here, isn’t it? The entire point of this partnership?"

"True," she admitted, tilting her head. "But tell me, Valerian—why would witches ever side with vampires? We don’t exactly get along. Werewolves and Lycans, either."

His silence made her smile wider.

"Think about it," she went on. "Werewolves have their pride—their whole pack loyalty and honor nonsense. Vampires? They’re arrogant pricks. Playful, reckless, and self-serving—kind of like witches, actually." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Now tell me, do those three seem like the type to suddenly put aside centuries of animosity and cooperate?"

The carriage rocked slightly as the wheels hit uneven ground, but Valerian barely noticed. His sharp amber eyes finally lifted from his book, studying her with new scrutiny.

Evelyn beamed. "But of course, I know you’ve already thought of that. Right?"

He didn’t answer right away. His silence stretched between them, thick with consideration. Then, finally—

". . . Are you implying there’s a traitor in our midst?"

A slow knowing smile curve her lips. "Oh, come now, Valerian. Is that really so hard to believe?" She leaned forward, voice dropping to a silky whisper. "Humans excel at betrayal. It’s practically second nature to you."

She leaned back again, her smile playful, but her ashen eyes gleamed with something sharper. freewebnoveℓ.com

"Especially in an organization as big as CROSS."

Valerian closed his book with deliberate slowness, the subtle weight of finality in the gesture. His sharp gaze flickered toward Evelyn, eyes narrowing slightly.

"You’re implying someone inside CROSS is helping the vampires?" His voice was low, measured, but she could hear the edge of suspicion curling at the corners of his words.

Evelyn tilted her head, her ashen eyes gleaming with amusement. "Oh, I don’t imply, Valerian. I state." She gave a delicate shrug, her fingers idly tracing the embroidery on her sleeve. "If you were to take a careful look at your inventories, you might notice some missing . . . potions. Maybe a few tomes—the kind filled with things your kind isn’t supposed to know. And if you’re really thorough, perhaps even a few secret blueprints and recipes might have mysteriously walked out of your precious vaults."

Valerian inhaled deeply through his nose, his fingers tightening around the book in his lap. He didn’t speak immediately, but his gaze shifted toward the carriage window, his expression unreadable.

Good, Evelyn thought. He wasn’t dismissing her outright. That was all she needed.

Because once Valerian started digging, it would only be a matter of time before he discovered the missing items—before he found out about Stephany’s betrayal.

His darling sister, sneaking into CROSS’ vaults, smuggling artifacts and knowledge she had no business handling. And for what?

A man.

A vampire, no less.

Evelyn known about Lucien and Stephany’s little romance. And she knew exactly how this story was supposed to go.

Not this time.

She glanced at Valerian, watching the way his jaw clenched slightly as his mind worked through the implications. She could tell—he was already unraveling the possibilities, already deciding what to do next.

Good.

But she had to be careful.

If she told him outright that his beloved sister was meeting with a vampire, he wouldn’t believe her. Worse, it might drive him mad and kill her on the spot. He would chose to trust his sister over some witch after all.

She refused to be the first to plant doubt in his heart against his beloved sister. Doing so would only strain their fragile, not-yet-budding relationship.

No, Evelyn had to let Valerian find out on his own.

If he traced the stolen items back to Stephany himself, if he put the pieces together with his own hands, he would be the one confronting her.

And when that moment came—when he saw the truth with his own eyes—

She wouldn’t be the one to blame.

Evelyn smirked, resting her chin in her palm as she watched Valerian brood by the window.

"You look troubled, Cross," she said, her voice a lazy drawl. "Perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut. It’s so exhausting watching you struggle with the concept of treachery."

He turned his head sharply, pinning her with an icy stare.

"Witches aren’t exactly known for their honesty," he said dryly.

She laughed, the sound rich and amused. "Oh, sweetheart. Humans are the ones who perfected the art of deception."

Valerian exhaled, pressing his fingers against his temple. "You have a deeply irritating way of speaking."

"Thank you." Evelyn smiled, utterly unbothered.

Valerian shook his head and looked back out the window, his expression darkening as the wheels in his head turned.

Evelyn merely watched, satisfied.

Go on, Valerian. Find the trail. Follow it. And when you reach the truth . . .

She crossed her legs elegantly, her grin growing.

I’ll be waiting.