Trial.* He had used the exact same word as her alternate self.
Yet, Evangeline didn't even register his question. Her mind was entirely trapped in the echo of the void. The vivid image of his blood-soaked corpse burned behind her eyelids, refusing to fade. Looking up at his living, breathing face, at the snowy ears twitching in the cool air, a profound, uncharacteristic question began to consume her thoughts:
Why? Why would a creature as powerful, chaotic, and terrifying as him ever choose to sacrifice his entire existence for someone as broken and cold as her?
"Why are you staring at me like that, My Queen?" Silver asked, his golden eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed the uncharacteristic intensity in her gaze.
"It is nothing," Evangeline replied, her voice smooth and carefully leveled as she forced the horrific image of his corpse out of her mind. "You are just beautiful."
