They stepped back out into the hallway, but this time it wasn’t quiet. Waiting outside, in a long, perfect line stretching down both sides of the corridor, were the summoned servants. Dozens of them, men and women of varying ranks, dressed uniformly, their heads respectfully bowed, hands folded in front of them in the submissive stance of omegas before an alpha. The air was so thick with silence that River could feel it pressing against her skin.
She stared, wide-eyed, barely able to comprehend what was happening. Why were they all here?
Heiko’s steps were slow and heavy as he moved to the center of the hallway, his presence stretching wider than the corridor itself. There was something primal about him now, something undeniably royal, and when he stopped, the entire line seemed to hold
