LOGINChapter 115 "Where is Cassian?""He isn't invited.""Then this isn't a council meeting.""It is now."Marren, one of the remaining hardliners, didn't look up from the papers in front of her."Lock the door."The door closed.A younger councilwoman stared at her. "Three houses have withdrawn their support this week. Two pack leaders have bypassed us completely.""We are not losing anything we haven't already lost," Marren said."Then what are we doing here?""Deciding what we're willing to do about it."An older elder shifted uneasily."We are discussing an alliance with people who attacked mourners at a funeral.""We are discussing survival.""That is not the same thing.""It will have to be."Silence settled over the room.Marren reached beneath the table and produced a small sealed token."They accepted our terms."The younger councilwoman's face tightened."You already contacted them?""Three nights ago.""And they agreed?""Yes.""What do they want?""Access.""To what?""Restric
Chapter 114 “Did you hear?”A fishmonger called across the market stall, barely bothering to lower his voice.“She stood between them and the whole crowd.”“Who did?”“Elara. The First Moon girl. Silver light everywhere, they said. Stopped the attackers cold.”A woman further down the row shook her head.“That’s not what I heard. I heard she saved the old man from Fennit Street. Practically brought him back from the edge.”“They say the light covered the whole square.”“That’s impossible.”“That’s what people are saying.”The woman hesitated.“Well… I saw the barrier.”“So did I.”“And you still think she’s dangerous?”“I didn’t say that.”“You didn't have to.”The conversation died beneath the sound of passing carts.Near the palace gates, two guards spoke quietly.“My cousin was there,” one said. “Says she didn't even hesitate. Just stepped in front of them.”“The Traitor’s Daughter?”The other guard’s jaw tightened.“Don’t call her that.”“You used to.”“I was wrong.”His compani
Chapter 113 "Move!"A healer shoved through the crowd."Give him space!""His pulse is dropping!"Another healer pressed hard against the old man's chest."Elara, step back," Kael said, gentle but urgent.She didn't move."I can't."Her hands were already glowing.Silver light pulsed faintly along her fingers.She stared at them."I didn't do that on purpose."Yssa dropped to her knees on the man's other side.Despite her exhaustion, her eyes remained sharp."Don't touch him yet."Elara looked at her."I need to know what that is before you do anything else.""I don't know what it is."The silver light trembled across Elara's palms."It just started."Yssa checked the man's breathing."It's been healing your own wounds for weeks."Her gaze returned to Elara's hands."This is different.""He's dying.""I know."Yssa's jaw tightened."Which is exactly why we can't guess."Elara swallowed."Then tell me what to do."Yssa hesitated."Don't force it."She pointed toward the wound."Don't
Chapter 112 "Down!"Torin's shout cut across the ceremony.Three mourners tore off their gray cloaks.Silver-black sigils flared along their forearms."Wardens!" Torin snarled.More figures moved at the edges of the crowd.Not all of them had revealed themselves yet.Kael was already moving."Guards, protect the civilians!"He drew his blade."Torin!""On it."The crowd exploded into panic.People screamed and pushed toward the gates.A child was separated from her mother.An elderly man stumbled beneath the surge before a guard caught him and dragged him out of the crush."This way!" a soldier shouted. "Keep moving!"One of the revealed attackers ignored the guards entirely.He cut through the panic toward the civilians.Torin's expression changed."They're not trying to reach us."His voice sharpened."They're going for the people."Kael intercepted the attacker.Steel struck dark magic.The impact cracked through the air."Then we don't let them reach anyone!"Elara's eyes swept
Chapter 111 "There are more people outside the gates," a guard murmured, breathless.Elara turned."How many?""We stopped counting past a thousand."Torin's expression flickered with disbelief."A thousand people came to watch a traitor's daughter bury a traitor.""He's not a traitor anymore," Elara said quietly.Her eyes moved toward the ceremony grounds."Maybe that's why they came."Kael stepped closer."You're watching the crowd.""Someone has to.""Torin's watching. That's his job today."His voice softened."You're looking at everyone except the reason you're standing here."Elara's gaze finally found the memorial stone at the center of the grounds.Freshly carved.ALERIC Veyne.Her father's full name caught the morning light.She swallowed."I'm afraid if I stop watching, I'll miss the moment it goes wrong."Kael's expression softened."And if you keep watching, you'll miss the moment it goes right."Her breath shook."Stay close.""Always."The officiant's voice carried cle
Chapter 110 Torin didn't knock."They're coming."Kael looked up from the seating arrangements."Who?""The corrupted Warden faction."Elara's hands stilled over the parchment in front of her."How many?""At least three we've identified. Possibly more."Kael straightened."How do you know?""My network identified two names last night. A third this morning."Torin's expression was grim."They've been seen buying mourning clothes that don't match anything they'd normally wear. One was overheard mentioning the ceremony by name."Elara exchanged a glance with Kael."Do you know what they intend?""Not exactly."Torin's jaw tightened."Disruption. Possibly worse. They could be there to make a scene, target Cassian, target Elara, or cause enough chaos that the entire ceremony collapses."He shook his head."I don't have enough information to know which.""Then we increase security," Kael said. "Guards at every entrance. Controlled admission. Weapons checks.""Kael""I'm not asking."He st







