Seraphina's POV
I watched from my office window as Karl Blackwood slipped out of the packed house at midnight, heading toward the forest with a backpack and determined expression.
"i***t," I murmured, sipping my wine. "Absolute idiot."
"Should we follow him?" my lieutenant, Marcus (I'd kept the name as a small joke), asked from behind me.
"No need." I turned from the window, smiling. "I already know where he's going. Who he's meeting. What he thinks he's accomplishing."
I'd known about Karl's little rebellion for days now. My spies were better than he gave me credit for. Every "secret" meeting with Elijah. Every encrypted message to Elena Rodriguez. Every piece of "intelligence" he thought he was stealing. I'd allowed all of it.
"You're going to let him continue?" Marcus asked, confu
