"Selene," Ariana repeated, disbelief cutting through the fading warmth of Lucien's confession. "She wants to surrender."
"Alone," the warrior confirmed, still catching his breath. "No escort. She's kneeling at the gate, unarmed."
Lucien's expression hardened instantly, whatever softness had existed moments earlier locked away behind cold calculation. "It could be another trap."
"It could be," Ariana agreed, already moving toward the gate. "But if there's any chance she actually knows something useful, we can't afford to turn her away."
"Ariana, wait."
She didn't slow, adrenaline pushing past exhaustion as she crossed the courtyard, Lucien and the others falling into step behind her. The gate stood open by the time they arrived, and there, exactly as described, knelt Selene Voss in the
