LOGINThe Cathedral of St. Jude was bathed in a light so pure it felt like a judgment. Today was the day of the Royal Investiture, the moment Leo Draven would officially become the Protector of the Realm. Thousands gathered outside, their cheers muffled by the thick, ancient stone walls, while the high
The weeks following the "Great Glitch"—as the official palace records called it—were the most delicate in the history of the realm. While the public celebrated a swift recovery of the kingdom’s infrastructure, the Draven estate became a high-security sanctuary for a population that didn't officially
The North Wing of the palace was a place of soft carpets and muted sunlight, designed to be a sanctuary for the future of the realm. But as the Dravens sprinted through the gilded corridors, it felt like a labyrinth of ice. The silence here was worse than the screaming of the machines in the High Co
The High Court chamber, usually a sanctuary of measured speech and ancient law, became a slaughterhouse of chrome and code. The grey smoke was so thick that the only things visible were the glowing blue optics of the Twelve Judges. "Lucien, get down!" Kaiser’s voice boomed over the hiss of the gren
The surface of the harbor was a churning cauldron of black grease and freezing foam. Kaiser, Izora, and Caspian collapsed onto the swaying deck of the salvage barge, the massive crane still groaning under the tension of the warehouse roof it had just ripped away. "Leo!" Izora scrambled to the edge
Benedict paused by the tall window, the rain casting streaks across his reflection. He stared at himself, at the monster he had willingly become, and smiled. Monsters did not regret. Monsters survived. Let her mother protect her now, he thought, a sneer tugging at his lips. Let her husband shield
The footsteps came with a quiet certainty, closing the distance between Izora and Kaiser faster than she expected. The man in the burgundy suit stepped forward, a slight, almost apologetic smile touching his lips as he halted before them. “I owe you an apology,” he said smoothly, his voice calm but
He carried her, wet skin against wet skin back into the bedroom. The fire was still low, and it made orange and gold shadows on the dark walls and silk bedding. It was quiet again, but not completely. There was a buzz in the air, as if something was about to happen. Kaiser put her on the bed and
The limousine's tinted windows shimmered with the blur of city lights, painting streaks of gold and red across Izora's face as she sat on Kaiser's lap, her breath shallow and hands trembling slightly. Kaiser’s chest beneath her was warm and steady, his heart beating against her palm as she slid his
The room was quiet except for the sound of water lapping against the edge of the tub. It was warm and smelt good, and it felt like a secret on their skin. Izora sat between Kaiser’s knees and moved her hand over his chest with the sponge, making circles that said more than words could. But suddenly







