Silence filled the room.
But it wasn't empty.
It was heavy.
Suffocating.
Every word that had just been spoken hung in the air like something alive—something impossible to ignore.
Nyra didn't move.
Didn't speak.
But inside—
Everything was shifting.
"The Alphas…" she whispered.
Her voice barely audible.
"…killed my kind."
The man didn't correct her.
Didn't soften it.
Didn't deny it.
Because there was nothing to deny.
"Yes."
Ronan exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"…This is insane."
Kael didn't move.
Didn't react.
At least—
Not outwardly.
But Nyra felt it.
Through the tension.
Through the silence.
Something inside him had cracked.
Nyra turned slowly.
Her eyes locking onto Kael.
"You knew?"
The question was quiet.
But sharp.
Deadly.
Kael's jaw tightened.
"No."
Nyra studied him carefully.
Searching.
Reading.
Feeling.
And what she found—
Was truth.
But also—
Something else.
"Not fully," he added.
Ronan glanced at him.
"That's not helping."
Nyra's voice dropped.
"But you knew enough."
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Because he did.
Not the full truth.
Not the full history.
But enough to understand one thing—
Origins were feared.
Hunted.
Erased.
"They told us they were dangerous," Kael said finally.
Nyra's expression didn't change.
"And that made it okay?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
Firm.
Certain.
Nyra held his gaze.
Then—
"Would you have killed me?"
Silence.
Ronan looked away slightly.
Because even he didn't want to hear the answer.
Kael didn't hesitate.
"No."
Nyra's eyes searched his.
"Even before?"
Another pause.
Then—
"…I don't know."
That was worse.
The air shifted instantly.
Nyra's power flared—
Not violently—
But sharply.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
"Honest," she said softly.
Kael didn't look away.
"I won't lie to you."
Nyra's lips curved slightly.
But there was no warmth in it.
"Good."
A pause.
"Because I won't forgive you easily."
Ronan let out a low breath.
"…Yeah, this is definitely getting complicated."
Nyra ignored him.
Her gaze shifted slightly.
Back to the man.
"You said they wiped us out," she said.
A pause.
"How?"
The man stepped forward slowly.
"They didn't do it alone."
Nyra's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
The man's voice lowered.
"There were traitors."
Silence.
Then—
"Among your own kind."
That hit differently.
Nyra's breath caught.
"No…"
The man nodded.
"Yes."
A pause.
"They helped the Alphas find the others."
Nyra's chest tightened painfully.
"Why?"
The man's expression remained calm.
"Power," he said.
"Fear."
"Survival."
Nyra's fists clenched tightly.
Her power flickered again—
Darker this time.
Heavier.
"Then they're still out there," she said.
The man smiled faintly.
"Yes."
A pause.
"And they're looking for you."