The air between us was thick with tension as we stood in the center of the grand hall. I could feel Elias's presence beside me, the heat of his body like a steady flame in the storm that was brewing around us. His hand, firm and unwavering on the small of my back, was the only thing grounding me as the weight of the moment pressed down.
On the opposite side of the room, Magnus stood with an air of arrogance, as if he believed he could still control everything—even me. His eyes locked on mine, and for a fleeting moment, I saw something beyond the cold calculation. Guilt. Or maybe that was just my wishful thinking.
Elias didn’t flinch as he stared across the room, the two of them locked in a silent battle. He was ready for this. Ready for the war that Magnus had been pushing us toward from
