The council chamber smelled of polished stone and old incense, a heavy scent that pressed down on Alina as she entered. Every councilor’s gaze immediately found her, and whispers slid like knives along the walls. She had learned quickly that the court did not forgive hesitation, and every misstep would be noticed.
Kael walked beside her, shadows shifting at his heels, protective and deliberate. The dark air around him seemed to pulse in rhythm with her own racing heartbeat. “Remember,” he murmured, low and intimate, “they may try to provoke fear, doubt, or anger. You must stay calm. Focus. Your power is yours—no one else’s.”
Alina nodded, though her pulse betrayed her. Just being in his presence, in the confined space of the council chamber, made the air thrum with tension. Every flicker
