Louis met her gaze for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before he finally spoke, his voice colder than before.
"I don't need to explain myself, Merlina. You know what happened to me. You know what Conor is capable of."
Merlina felt a flicker of doubt. Louis had been the one who had been wronged, but now, with the way he was speaking, she wasn't sure if his desire for revenge had overtaken his need for justice.
"What I know," she said, her voice steady, "is that I don't want this to be about getting even. I want it to be about finding out the truth about my mom."
Louis shifted uncomfortably, glancing away. Merlina's words seemed to hit deeper than she had intended, but she couldn't hold back now. She had to know what this was really about.
"I can't promise you it's not personal," he said after a long pause, his voice quieter, softer now, almost regretful. "But it's not just about me. You know that."
