_Miles’s POV_
Damian didn’t ask.
He informed.
I was in his study less than twelve hours after the last warning text, standing in front of the same desk while he signed off on a travel packet like the decision had always been inevitable.
“You will attend the overseas summit,” he said. “Departure tomorrow evening. One week. Silvermane representation is required, and I am done watching you treat local entanglement as your primary assignment.”
“There are other people who can sit in those rooms.”
“There are,” Damian agreed. “I am sending you.”
The silence after that was deliberate. He wanted the shape of the order to settle fully before I spoke again.
“This is removal,” I said.
His eyes lifted. “This is duty. If it also creates distance from the Ashwood heir, that is an additional bene
