Catalina had been empress for less than an hour when the first courier arrived.
She was still in the throne chamber, standing now rather than sitting—the weight of the upper throne felt too heavy to bear for long, and there was too much to do. Talon was coordinating with the rebel forces who'd secured the outer city, ensuring the transition of power didn't collapse into chaos. Jace had disappeared into the lower levels to debrief his network and confirm that Aldrich's remaining loyalists were contained. Bastian stood near the throne itself, one hand resting on the ancient stone, his magic humming through the chamber's wards as he reinforced the protections that had been dormant for fifteen years.
Kade had sent word from the harbor district that the merchant council was convening an emerg
