Pov: Asher
“Your tea, Alpha,” the steward said softly, setting the porcelain cup on the polished wooden table.
Asher nodded absently, glancing over the maps spread before him. “Thank you.”
The steward gave a brief bow and quietly exited the room. Ember was still with the council—he had only a few minutes of quiet. He exhaled and reached for the cup.
A knock.
“Come in,” he called, his fingers still brushing the cup’s rim.
The door creaked open. Julian stepped in slowly. His eyes were darker than usual, sleepless and unfocused.
“You look like hell,” Asher said, a flicker of concern in his tone.
Julian didn’t answer at first. He just stood there, staring at the tea, then at Asher.
“I—I needed to talk,” Julian finally said.
Asher leaned back. “Sit.”
Julian obeyed without hesitation. His hands fidgeted in his lap. “About what happened. With Lark. Eline.”
“You killed them,” Asher said, not coldly, not unkindly. Just truth.
“I didn’t want to,” Julian said quietly. “But I had to. Something i
