The guest quarters assigned to Kerrigan and her team in the royal capital were steeped in a sterile opulence that offered little comfort. The heavy velvet drapes muted the light, casting the room in a somber glow, while the ornate furnishings seemed to loom over the occupants—a reminder of the old power structures they had just confronted in the High Council.Kerrigan sat in a high-backed chair, the aftershocks of Abraxas’s power still pulsing beneath her skin, gradually ebbing away. Conor stood beside her, one hand resting gently on the arm of her chair.His presence was a steadying force, and as his hand touched hers, the lingering essence of Celia’s and Abraxas’s power began to fade, dissolving into motes of golden light that shimmered briefly before subsiding into a peaceful calm.Faolan lay at their feet, alert but relaxed, her ears twitching at every distant sound from the hallway outside.The rest of the team had gathered in the sitting room, the tension from the day’s events s

The atmosphere in the guest quarters was a mix of cautious optimism and determined resolve. The discovery of Lady Evelyn Stanhope’s ties to the Benedicts had given Kerrigan and the team a valuable lead, and they were deep in discussion about how to best use this new information.The team gathered around the table, documents spread out before them, as they strategized their next move.Kerrigan leaned forward, her eyes scanning the documents. “If we go after Lady Evelyn too aggressively, it might tip off the Benedicts that we’ve got yet another nail for their coffin. We need to be strategic and use this as a surprise.”Aileana MacKenna, their press secretary, nodded in agreement. “We can start by leaking the financial records to a trusted reporter. We’ll go after the corruption scandal angle—let the public get riled up before we bring the evidence to the Council. That way, they’ll have no choice but to take action.”Reilynn, who had been reviewing the records, looked up. “I’ll see if Jar

The sun was already dipping below the horizon by the time Kerrigan and team gathered in the meeting room, their expressions tense and focused. Documents, notes, and sketches of their strategy were spread across the long wooden table, but despite their best efforts, an air of uncertainty hung heavily over them. The pressure was mounting as the trial against Kelan Benedict approached, and every detail had to be perfect.“We’ve got the financial records tying Lady Evelyn to the Benedict family. That’s solid,” Aileana said, pacing at the head of the table. Her eyes darted between the papers as if absorbing every word written on them. “The Benedicts are going to push back hard, and they’re not above manipulating the media, though. If we control the narrative, we control public perception.”Conor nodded, flipping through the documents he had prepared. “We need more than just numbers—we need something that hits the public emotionally, something they can connect with. People need to see the f

The streets of the royal capital buzzed with anticipation, the tension thick in the air as the trial against Kelan Benedict began. Crowds gathered outside the High Council chambers, murmurs of curiosity and suspicion filling the cobblestone streets. Word of the trial had spread like wildfire, and all eyes were on Kerrigan and her team. The stakes had never been higher.Inside the grand stone halls of the Council chamber, the atmosphere was no less charged. The air was heavy with the scent of old wood and polished metal, the chamber packed with nobles, council members, and officials all eager to see how the proceedings would unfold. Every seat was filled, and those who couldn’t secure a place stood along the back walls, their faces etched with interest and anxiety.Kerrigan sat near the front, her posture straight and composed, though inside, her mind raced with the weight of the trial ahead. Beside her sat Conor, a steady presence as always, his hand resting lightly on her arm, a quiet

King Ryu Pinion sat in his private study, the heavy velvet curtains drawn tightly against the late afternoon sun. The chamber was bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch across the polished stone floor.While there was modern lighting is much of the castle, the candles pleased him, so he insisted on their presents, at least in certain rooms.In the silence, he could hear only the soft crackle of the fire and the ticking of the ancient clock on the mantle. His mind, however, was anything but quiet.The trial against Kelan Benedict had dominated the capital for weeks now, pulling the eyes of the entire kingdom toward Kerrigan Lokir.Her growing influence disturbed him—there was a sense of inevitability in the way her popularity had blossomed, how the people spoke of her. Even within the High Council, there were whispers of admiration, quiet but dangerous.And Conor. Always Conor.The King’s jaw tightened at the thought of him. Conor Brantley,