Chapter 55
Ronan smirked, slow and dark, the kind that wasn't meant to be friendly. He almost chuckled in mockery because of how predictable Ezren was, but instead...without a word, he raised his hand and gave Ezren the middle finger.
For a second, Ezren just stared at him speechless, as if he couldn't believe it.
Then the dangerous glint flickered in his eyes, his fingers twitching like he was half a second from drawing a blade across Ronan's throat. It was clear that Ronan had hit a nerve.
The room felt like it dipped into freezing cold for a heartbeat.
Ezren's jaw tightened. His muscles tensed like loaded springs ready to snap. But somehow, he reeled it in.
Just smirked instead, a tight, strained thing, and looked away.
Before either of them could push it further, Aldric's voice cut through the air the tension, drawing back everyone's attention.
"Meeting's over. Thirty minutes," he barked. "Be in the van. No excuses. No delays."
