"Exactly what they're all afraid of." Serena's voice cracked with disbelief. "What does that even mean, Kael?"
He didn't answer right away. The collapsed passage behind them had settled into silence, dust still drifting through the dim light of the buried chamber, and Kael stood there like a man deciding how much of himself he could afford to lose.
"It means the Council isn't just hiding an old scandal," he said finally. "It means what's happening to you is bigger than a rejection ceremony or a broken bracelet. And the more you understand, the more dangerous you become to people who've spent centuries making sure this stays buried."
"Then start explaining. Now. Because I am done being kept in the dark about my own life."
Mira shifted beside her, glancing between them like she was watch
