The hall was chaos.
Voices rose and tangled in the rafters, whispers sharpening into accusations, questions, and gasps. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of shock and fear. Every eye was on me. On my children. On Damon.
And at the center of it all—Talia.
Her face twisted, beautiful features sharpened by fury. She stepped down from the dais, her gown trailing behind her like spilled blood, and approached with the slow, measured grace of a predator circling prey.
“So,” she said, her voice dripping poison, “the Omega returns.”
The crowd hushed instantly. Her words sliced through the noise, cruel and clear.
I shifted Lina in my arms, feeling her small body tense. Cael pressed closer to my side, his golden eyes flicking warily between Talia and Damon.
I kept my chin high. “I didn’t
