Williams began the explanation, his voice solemn, every word soaked in the kind of dread that crawled beneath the skin and stayed there.
"Edwin found out the identity and story behind her father's death. And it is not a pleasant one."
He paused, as if preparing Roman for the heaviness of the truth to come. His usually composed features were etched with a seriousness that made the room feel colder, heavier.
"Her father's name is Carmelo Bandara. He is—was—a dark witch, and the leader of the Goron coven."
The words hit the room like a thunderclap. Roman's jaw clenched slightly, but he said nothing, his sharp eyes locked onto Williams, absorbing every syllable. His hand never left Tessy's. He kept it on hers, his fingers still wrapped gently around her delicate ones, massaging them with soft circles like he could soothe away the tension clawing through his chest.
