The weight of that statement hung in the air. This wasn't just politics. This was personal. House Varen hadn't just threatened Silverpine — they'd murdered Fao's entire family and left him to die in the wilderness.
"Then let's rebuild," Fao said quietly, his hand tight around mine. "And when we're strong enough — we make them pay for what they did."
No one argued.
After the meeting, I caught Fao in the hallway.
"You okay?"
He ran a hand through his hair. "Just... a lot. Every day there's more. More problems, more history, more expectations." He looked at me. "But you got cleared. That's good news."
"The best news." I rose on my toes to kiss him. "Come watch me train?"
"I have another meeting in an hour. But after?" He smiled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "I wouldn't mi
