"You have eliminated all my minor pieces, Mr. Ethel," the voice echoed through the carriage with chilling composure.
Rafael sat perfectly still on the velvet bench, his silver eyes fixed on the black speaker grill of the audio system.
Lyra shifted beside him, her hand moving subtly toward the concealed stiletto within her tailored jacket lining.
"Every piece has a purpose on the board, Mayor," Rafael answered smoothly, his baritone voice dripping with calm defiance. "Some are meant to protect the king, while others are sacrificed to clear the path."
"A bold philosophy for a man standing at the edge of a precipice," the Mayor replied, his tone carrying an amused, dark undertone. "Do you truly believe your newly acquired underground network can withstand a full state audit?"
"The s
