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Kieran's gaze remained unyielding, his suspicion only deepening. "I've seen enough to know when someone's hiding something," he replied evenly. "And you, Malachai, are hiding a lot."

The malachite-furred fox leaned back in his chair, his demeanor almost nonchalant. "Well then, by all means, enlighten me," he retorted, his tone a mixture of boredom and challenge. "Tell me what wild theories you've concocted about me."

Kieran's fingers tightened into fists, his patience wearing thin. "I don't need theories," he shot back. "I need facts. Starting with why you were so interested in Tessa in the first place."

Malachai's laughter was sharp and cutting, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the room. "Oh, Tessa," he mused, his tone dripping with false nostalgia. "She's just a means to an end, my friend. A pawn in a much larger game."

Kieran's eyes narrowed, his suspicion deepening. "And what game is that?"

Malachai leaned forward, his gaze locking onto Kieran's with an intensity that sent a shiver down Kieran's spine. "The kind of game you wouldn't understand," he replied cryptically. "But let's just say, I have my reasons for everything I do."

Kieran's jaw clenched, his frustration boiling to the surface. "Stop dancing around the truth," he growled. "You're not fooling anyone."

Malachai's smile never wavered, and was a mask of confidence that seemed unbreakable. "Oh, my dear bounty hunter," he purred, his words laced with a sinister edge. "You underestimate me. But then again, that's exactly what I want."

Kieran growled. "I've tangled with enough people like you to recognize when someone's trying to blind me," he retorted, his voice full of quiet intensity. "You can play your games, but I won't be a pawn in this twisted dance."

Malachai's chuckle was like a venomous melody, a melody that sent a chill down Kieran's spine. "Ah, but isn't life itself a dance of shadows?" he mused, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "We all have our roles to play, my friend. Even you."

Kieran's fingers drummed on the table, his impatience a tangible force in the room. "Cut the philosophical nonsense," he snapped. "We're talking about lives at stake here."

Malachai's gaze flickered, a momentary crack in his mask of confidence. "Lives?" he echoed, his tone almost innocent. "Ah, yes, lives are fragile, aren't they? Easily snuffed out, like a candle in the wind."

Kieran's patience was wearing thin, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "Enough with the riddles," he growled. "Tell me what you know about Tessa."

Malachai leaned back, his fingers steepled as if in contemplation. "The star-furred fox," he mused, his voice a velvet whisper. "Such an intriguing girl, don't you think? But my interest in your celestial friend goes beyond mere curiosity."

Kieran's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing sharper. "Then enlighten me," he demanded. "Why her? What do you gain from all of this?"

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Malachai's smile was like a serpent's, a cunning glint in his gaze. "Power, my dear bounty hunter," he hissed. "The kind of power that transcends worlds. And Tessa, well, she's the key to unlocking that potential."

Kieran's fists clenched. "You won't succeed," he vowed. "I won't let you use her for whatever twisted plans you have."

Malachai's laughter was like shards of ice, a chilling sound that echoed in the air. "Ah, defiance," he purred. "How charming. But mark my words, Kieran, it’s already too late for Tessa. The shadows have a way of consuming even the most valiant of souls.”

The room seemed to close in around them, the weight of their words hanging in the air like a storm on the horizon. As the truth continued to elude them, the search for answers deepened, casting a veil of uncertainty over them like a dark cloud.

Kieran narrowed his yellow eyes. "You speak of power, but power over what? What could be worth jeopardizing lives for?"

Malachai's eyes gleamed with a sinister light, a predatory aura enveloping him. "Ah, Kieran, you see the world in such narrow terms," he replied, his voice dripping with condescension. "Lives are but stepping stones in the grand tapestry of existence. Sacrifices must be made for the greater design."

Kieran's patience wore thin, his frustration seeping into his words. "Sacrifices? You mean you're willing to manipulate and destroy just to fulfill your own desires?"

Malachai's smile remained, his demeanor unflappable. "Desires, intentions—such trivial concepts, don't you think? My goals transcend your limited perspective."

Kieran's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his voice sharp. "Enough of your cryptic nonsense. If you think that I'll stand by while you use Tessa as some pawn, you're gravely mistaken."

Malachai's gaze bore into Kieran's, an unsettling calm in his eyes. "You're a fascinating one. Your righteous fury, your unwavering determination—it's almost poetic."

Kieran's nostrils flared, his restraint teetering on the edge. "You’re like a brick wall," he grumbled, frustrated.

Malachai's laughter cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and cold. He raised his voice and leaned forward. "My dear Kieran, you're nothing more than a fleeting gust of wind in this grand design. But by all means, keep fighting. It's quite entertaining."

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As the interrogation continued, Kieran's mind raced trying to decipher the layers of deception woven into the criminal's words. The dim light in the room seemed to cast eerie shadows on Malachai's face, enhancing the air of mystery that surrounded him. The bounty hunter was not trained in the skill of questioning criminals, he was more fit for bringing them in to the authorities. Despite that, this time he wanted answers; this all felt personal to him.

The guard leader leaned forward, his voice tinged with frustration. "Enough of your games, Whitewood. Give us the answers we need."

Malachai's lips curled into a sly smile, revealing his fangs, a hint of triumph in his gaze. "You underestimate the power at play here," he taunted. "You think your little realm can contain the forces that seek to break free? You don’t even know what you’re dealing with."

Kieran's patience wore thin, but before he could interject, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor outside. The door burst open, revealing a frantic guard. "Sir," the guard breathed heavily, his eyes avoiding Kieran's. "We've received an urgent report. Trouble at the city gates."

Stoneclaw’s brow furrowed. "What sort of trouble?"

"An ambush," the guard explained. "A group of rogue foxes, armed and dangerous. We need all hands on deck."

Stoneclaw sighed, retaining his outward confidence, but the minty blue bounty hunter could read him well. He seemed a bit overwhelmed by everything. "We have an urgent situation," he announced, his voice firm. "I'll have to leave to deal with it, but we can't afford to halt the interrogation."

Kieran's eyes narrowed slightly at the guard leader's words, a subtle unease settling in the pit of his stomach. He watched as the guard leader turned to a fox nearby. "Williams, I'm appointing you to take charge in my absence."

Williams, a stocky, long-furred male fox of a slate gray color, nodded in acknowledgment. "Of course, sir. You can count on me."

With a final nod, Stoneclaw strode out of the room, leaving Kieran alone with Williams and the enigmatic Malachai. Kieran's instincts buzzed like a warning signal, his gaze shifting between the two figures before him. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, that there were undercurrents of hidden motives beneath the surface.

"Let's get back to it then," Williams said, his voice seemingly steady as he turned his attention to Malachai. "You were saying something about Tessa's unique abilities."