Lord Peter’s fingernails dug into his palms.
He couldn’t breathe.
There was no word from Thas. No new updates. No assurance that River had been eliminated, as promised. He had believed her to be a naïve omega girl, an inconvenience. But if she had survived... if she had uncovered something…
He could feel the old structure he’d spent decades building begin to splinter.
Thas had assured him he had things under control.
But Thas was not here.
And soon, Heiko will be marching toward the capital, carrying secrets behind sealed lips, and the King was listening.
Across the room, the Chancellor’s voice echoed again:
“Send word to Almira. Inform Lord Heiko his audience is granted. He will be heard within five days.”
--
The late afternoon sun dipped low on the horizon as Heiko and River ro
