The opulence of the Paradeplatz ballroom was at its zenith when the world abruptly vanished. One moment, the massive crystal chandelier was casting a blinding, rhythmic light across the dancing elite of Zurich; the next, a heavy, velvet void swallowed the room. The transition was so instantaneous that the collective gasp of the guests seemed to hang in the air, vibrating against the sudden silence of the orchestra. It was the precise, calculated disruption Eigar’s team had promised.
"Stay exactly where you are, Darling," Kai’s voice sliced through the dark, sounding closer than she expected.
Elea did not respond. She was already moving. The heavy silk of her wedding gown, which had been a beautiful hindrance only seconds ago, was now a tactical obstacle she navigated with predatory ins
