Kael took a step toward her. "The Council killed my parents, Elara. I was twelve. If they knew a Mercer survived, I’d have been hunted like an animal. Your grandfather—he was the only person who protected me. He said the only place a Mercer could be safe was in the light of the woman the city loved most. I had to stay hidden to protect you as much as me."
"Protect me?" She laughed, a harsh, jagged sound. "You let Silas destroy me! You let him walk into my office and humiliate me today! You waited until the absolute last second... just so you could swoop in and play the hero. That’s not protection, Kael. That’s an ego trip."
"I couldn't trigger the liquidation of the bank until Silas and Sterling were in the same room using their digital keys," Kael countered, his voice steady despite the
