MATTEO:
The night had teeth. And somewhere between the hour and the silence, I realized silence could scream.The candle on my desk had long died out. I didn’t bother lighting another. The dark made it easier to think, and easier to listen.
Something was wrong.
No word from the servant I’d sent. No movement from Maximus. No whispers returning through the walls. If I had been overheard, and the scent that lingered from last night still replayed in my mind, then why was everything so still?
Maximus should’ve reacted. Called the council. Confronted me. He was too proud to hide suspicion. Yet he hadn’t.
Unless… whoever overheard hadn’t told him. Or worse, they were keeping it, waiting for the right moment to use it. I leaned back, fingers drumming the armrest of my chair.
“Interesting,” I
