The room seems to freeze. Theo’s eyes darken, his face drawn tight with disbelief. I can’t read him anymore. What did this mean? Was she really behind it all? My pulse picks up, racing in my ears, but I keep going, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “She said she was experimenting. It didn’t feel right, but I—I didn’t think…”

Theo pushes back from the table abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. I can see his hand trembling as it runs through his hair. It’s as if everything inside him is snapping into place, just like it is for me.

Orion curses under his breath. “That’s it. That’s the connection. The cyanide, the elderberries, the pattern—it’s all her.”

Bennett mutters under his breath before looking at Morgan. “We don’t have enough for an arrest, do we?”

Morgan shakes her head, her expression dark. “No. Not yet.”

“But it’s more than enough to bring in outside help,” Orion says, reading her mind.

Morgan meets his gaze, steady and unflinching. “I was going to tell you eventually, but now seems as good a time as any—I’m bringing in the FBI.”

Orion beams at her, “That’s the best thing I’ve heard today, Firefly.”

I frown. “Won’t that tip her off?”

“She might already know we’re onto her,” Morgan says grimly. “We’ve never known this side of her, she could just be playing with us.”

Orion abruptly gets up from where he’s sitting at the table. “I’m calling my team.” And just like that, he strides out of the room.

A heavy silence settles over the group.

Bennett throws his cards down on the table with an exaggerated groan. “For the record, I was about to win that round.”

“Sure you were,” Celeste deadpans, earning a smirk from Theo.

A heavy silence settles over the room.

Morgan lets out a short laugh, shaking her head. Then, her expression steels again, and she stands abruptly. “I need to make some calls. The sooner, the better.” She grabs her phone and heads toward the door.

Theo raises an eyebrow. “Morgan.”

“Hmm?”

“You’re calling them now, aren’t you?”

She doesn’t even glance back. “Damn right, I am.” And then she’s gone.

The game is over.

Now it’s war.

25

Theo

The living room at Selene’s place is thick with tension and quiet, but not in a peaceful way. It’s the silence that comes before a storm. The last time we were here was game night a few days ago when we got the worst confirmation of our lives.

Valkyrie paces restlessly, sniffing at shoes and nudging hands for attention, oblivious to the storm brewing in the room. She’s always been good at reading a room, sensing moods before anyone speaks a word.