Page 186 of Daughter of the Serpent

“All I’m giving you are the facts,” Haldor shot back. “He lied. To you. To us. He’s not just a warrior from the north - he’s a berserker.”

Godvick went still.

“A berserker?” he whispered, voice barely audible. “So the stories were true.”

Both Sylvie and Haldor turned to him.

“What do you know?” Haldor stepped forward. “Speak, old man.”

Godvick hesitated, but didn’t flinch. “The old tales said the Hazier were shifters. That they could mirror the land. Trees. Beasts. Shadows. I always thought of them as myths - stories told to scare or impress. But now…”

He looked at her, sympathy carved deep in his features.

“This changes everything.”

“He was out of control,” Haldor growled. “He tore through Bjorn’s men like they were nothing. He’s dangerous.”

His eyes bore into Sylvie’s. “And we both know the killings…it wasn’t the Karnikim. It was him. It’s always beenhim.”

Sylvie’s breath caught. Her mouth opened - but no words came.

“I can’t…” Her voice cracked. She pressed a trembling hand to her chest, as if that might keep her heart from breaking open. “I can’t believe that.”

But the seed of doubt had already rooted.

She had seen the darkness in Axel. Felt his rage - burning, unrelenting. Directed at her people. At Rederick. At the temple guards. She had told herself it was clan - born, a grudge passed through generations.

But now... it felt like something deeper. Something personal.

Had it all been a lie? His protection? His tenderness? The way he touched her like she mattered?

Or had it all been a game - just another mask?

“I saw him shift!” Haldor’s voice snapped through the air like a whip. “I saw it, with my owngoddamnedeyes!”

“That doesn’t prove he’s the killer,” Godvick said, voice calm but firm.

“I have to talk to him,” Sylvie whispered. “I need answers. I need to - ”

“What more do you need? He used you, deceived you!” Haldor barked, eyes blazing. “You would be afoolto try and find him. He’s dangerous, and if you think I’m going to let you just walk out that door and - ”

“Enough,” Godvick said sharply, raising a hand. “That’s enough.”

Haldor turned on him, rage carved across his face.

“I think you should leave,” Godvick added, his voice like stone. “Cool your temper before you do something you regret.”

Haldor stood motionless for a long breath, vibrating with fury. Then he looked at Sylvie - his voice low, bitter.

“Iwarnedyou,” he said. “But you wouldn’t listen.”

His words struck like coals to her chest. She didn’t speak. Couldn’t.

The door slammed behind him - but his words lingered, heavy as smoke.

Sylvie stared into the fire. The flames hissed, but offered no comfort. Only silence. Only questions.

Godvick returned, pressing a mug of warm broth into her hands. She barely felt it.

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