Ella's POV
The door to the dungeon slammed shut behind me.
Dean's words still clawed at the back of my mind like a splinter I couldn't pull out.
"Not all betrayals come from the past. Some are sitting right beside you."
He wanted me to question them. The people I trusted most.
And the sick part? It worked.
The walk through the corridor felt longer than it should have. My body moved on instinct—past the watch guards, past the southern hall, past the council chambers—until I finally stepped into the war room and froze.
Remo was already there, standing near the hearth, firelight catching the sharp edge of his jaw. He was speaking to Christian in a low voice, one hand braced against the stone mantel.
Christian leaned against the wall with all the relaxed arrogance of someone who didn't
