Just under a week later, Conor and Kerrigan found themselves looking out at the Kings castle in the capital of Golan. The grand hall of the royal palace was a magnificent sight, towering ceilings adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and ancient heroes. Tall windows lined the walls, casting beams of sunlight onto the polished marble floor, where each step echoed with the weight of history.The air was thick with anticipation and tension, as if the very walls were holding their breath, waiting for the confrontation that would soon unfold.Conor and Kerrigan were shown to their chambers by a silent procession of servants, their retinue of dragoons trailing behind with a sense of purpose. Sorcha kept her eyes sharp, her posture stiff and ready, while Parker walked close behind Conor, scanning the opulent corridors for any sign of trouble. Reilynn and Evelynn trailed Kerrigan, this event needing everyone’s full attention. The colonel had even sent along several other gu
The atmosphere in the grand chamber of the High Counsel of Nobles was tense and charged. Ornate chandeliers hung from the high ceiling, casting a glow over the room that was equal parts majestic and foreboding.The long table at the center was flanked by plush chairs occupied by the most powerful figures in the kingdom. Each of them wore expressions ranging from guarded skepticism to outright disdain as Conor and Kerrigan entered, escorted by their dragoons.Sorcha moved with practiced vigilance, her sharp eyes scanning every corner of the room, while Parker stood firmly at Conor’s side, his presence a reassuring wall of strength.Conor’s gaze met Kerrigan’s briefly, a silent exchange of support and resolve. The two moved confidently to their seats, but there was no mistaking the undercurrent of tension that rippled through the room.Aileana MacKenna, their press secretary, had met with them earlier in the day. She had prepped them for this exact moment, urging them to maintain compos
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 air in the guest quarters was thick with tension. Kerrigan sat at the head of the table, her hands resting on the smooth wood, fingers drumming a restless rhythm.The events in the High Council chamber still echoed in her mind, each memory a stark reminder of the stakes they were playing for. Around her, Conor and the dragoons were deep in discussion, their voices low but urgent as they planned their next moves against Kelan Benedict.Kerrigan was about to respond to one of their comments when a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Faolan, lying by the hearth, lifted her head, ears pricking forward. Parker moved to answer the door, his hand instinctively brushing his service weapon.The door creaked open, revealing a young messenger standing in the hallway, a sealed letter clutched in his hand. “A letter for Lady Kerrigan Lokir,” he said, his voice wavering slightly as he took in the presence of the formidable team.Parker accepted the letter, his gaze narrowing as he inspe
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 evening air in the royal capital was cool and crisp, but instead of being pleasant, Kerrigan felt it reflected her mood as made her way through the labyrinth of corridors leading to her grandfather’s quarters.Her mind churned with the revelations from the royal archives—the brief mention of Priestess Rainna visiting the palace with a baby boy nearly twenty-four years ago had stirred something deep within her.Conor had brushed it off as irrelevant, but Kerrigan couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that there was more to the story. And the more she thought about it, the more determined she became to uncover the truth.As she reached the door to Duke Atholl’s private study, she hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. The Duke had always been a pillar of strength for her, a guiding force in her life. But there were things even he had kept hidden, and tonight, she needed answers.She knocked softly, and the Duke’s gruff voice called out, “Enter.”Kerrigan stepped inside to find
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 soft murmur of voices echoed through the hallways of the royal capital’s guest quarters, but Kerrigan’s thoughts were elsewhere, tangled in the web of secrets and half-truths she had uncovered in the past few days.Her encounter with Duke Atholl had only deepened her confusion, and now, the arrival of the Duchess—her grandmother—seemed both a blessing and a curse. The Duchess was one of the few people who might have the answers she sought, but Kerrigan wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear them.The Duchess had arrived earlier that morning, her presence a quiet yet commanding force that filled the room. She had come under the guise of supporting her husband in the ongoing political turmoil, but Kerrigan knew there was more to her visit. There always was.As Kerrigan made her way to the drawing room where her grandmother waited, she could feel the weight of the conversation to come pressing down on her. She hadn’t told anyone else what she planned to ask—not even Conor. This was a fa