Aria did not move when the system forced the override through her mind, and for a brief moment, everything inside her went still in a way that felt unnatural, as if something had pressed pause on her existence.
The power inside her stopped fighting and the presence inside her went quiet. Even her thoughts slowed. From the outside, it looked like she had lost.
Kael felt it instantly, and his chest tightened as he took a step forward, his eyes locked on her unmoving form. “Aria,” he said, but no response came.
The air around her felt heavy, but not unstable. Ronan narrowed his eyes slightly as he watched her, his expression shifting into something more focused.
“That is not submission,” he said quietly. The Council leader stepped forward, his posture firm as he studied her. “It is contai
