The chamber exploded into chaos the moment Ephraim's final words settled over the hall.
"Seize him," Garrick shouted, his composure fully abandoned now, desperation replacing calculation as he gestured toward Ephraim with sudden, violent urgency. "He speaks treason against this court!"
Six of Garrick's personal guards moved immediately, converging on Ephraim from multiple directions before anyone could react to stop them. Ephraim, despite his years of cruelty and his own private army back at his estate, stood alone and unarmed within a hostile palace, and panic flashed across his face as the guards closed in.
"Logan!" Elena's warning came half a second too late.
The first blade found Ephraim's shoulder before Logan could cross the distance between them, and Ephraim cried out, stumbling
