Chapter 38: The Betrayer’s Identity

The cavern felt colder than before, the air heavy with suspicion and fear. The Rogues were tense, their eyes darting between each other, trying to figure out who among them could have betrayed us.

Rowan’s hand was still on the traitor’s throat, his knuckles white with barely controlled rage. I could see the tendons in his arm flexing, every muscle in his body ready to snap.

“Talk,” Rowan demanded, his voice a low, threatening growl. “Who are you working for? And why?”

The young Rogue on his knees struggled for breath, his eyes wild with terror. He was barely out of his teens, his face gaunt and pale beneath the flickering torchlight.

For a moment, I thought he might pass out from the pressure Rowan was exerting on his throat, but then he coughed, gasping for air as he tried to speak.

“P-Please,” he wheezed, his voice trembling. “I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t… I had no choice.”

“We all have choices,” I interjected, stepping forward. My voice was cold, sharper than I intended,