The city event was set in one of the older glass halls overlooking the central district, a place designed for elegance that doubled as silent competition. Everything inside looked soft at first glance, with polished floors, warm lighting, and music that never rose too high, but Elara had already learned that places like this were never about comfort. They were about control hidden under beauty.
She stepped out of the car beside Dante, her hand briefly adjusting the side of her dress as she took in the entrance. People were already gathering, moving in clusters that looked casual but were positioned too carefully to be natural. Every group seemed to have weight behind it, every smile seemed to carry intention.
Dante walked slightly ahead of her, not as protection, but as presence. People
