Leonard's POV
Everything that used to steady me felt like they were a million miles away from me. Power and Routine.
Today, both felt like illusions I could no longer hold.
The council chamber doors closed behind the last elder, their voices dissolving into the long stone corridor beyond. The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence, the kind that pressed against your skull and made your own thoughts sound too loud.
I remained seated at the head of the obsidian table long after everyone had left.
Reports lay open before me.
Territory disputes along the northern ridge.
Supply shortages in the lower settlements.
Patrol restructuring requests.
Breeding reports from the western den.
Important.
Necessary.
Utterly meaningless.
My gaze drifted toward the far wall without seeing i
