A month passed. A month of slow healing.
The trials happened. The conspirators Marcus named were punished. The palace guard was purged of Echo loyalists and rebuilt under Toren’s diligent eye. Caius was the official Captain, but Toren did most of the physical work. Caius’s mind was sharp, his will strong, but his body was a delayed echo of his commands.
Selene ruled with a new confidence. The shadow of conspiracy was gone. She pushed her reforms. The court grumbled, but they did not dare oppose her. She had beaten them all.
Caius and Selene found their rhythm. By day, he was her Captain, formal and correct. By night, twice a week, they met in the tower room. They talked. They shared a meal. They simply existed together, without titles, without guards. It was a stolen life, but it was th
