Tristan's smirk widened. He had her right where he wanted her–questioning, curious, and more importantly, feeling the weight of the revelation. Yet, he wasn't willing to let her in on the secret. Not entirely, anyway.
As the seconds ticked on, the gravity of Avelina's observation grew heavier.
"That's a very interesting observation, Avelina," he mused, his back turned to her, staring out of the window, witnessing the realm of the academy he commanded. The sprawling grounds, and passersby hustling about, all seemed to serve as a backdrop to his ever-growing ambition. "Well, it appears the world is full of surprises," he said, his voice dripping with mischief, purposely avoiding the subject.
"But how?" Avelina pressed, her intrigue growing. She had seen firsthand what Evelyn could do, and now Tristan mirrored that power.
