Morning arrived without fanfare. There was no birdsong here in the Court grounds, only the hum of the climate control systems and the distant whir of security drones patrolling the perimeter. I woke before the alarm. The stone on the nightstand was dark, dormant like a sleeping ember.
Ezra was already awake. He sat in the armchair by the window, watching the grounds below. His posture was rigid, alert.
"He is coming," Ezra said without turning around.
"Kaelen?"
"Yes. Thorne sent a message. Ten minutes."
I sat up. The bed was too soft, too luxurious. It felt like a trap designed to make me sleepy. I swung my legs out and stood on the cool floor. "Did Thorne say why?"
"He says Kaelen has a warrant. Emergency detention. Citing energy sabotage."
"I stabilized the grid," I said. My voice
