As the door softly clicked shut behind Princess Lirael, Aiden's smirk deepened, his thoughts racing ahead to the next phase of his carefully orchestrated plan. The bait had been laid, and now all he needed was to let the princess fall deeper into his web.
From the shadowed corner of the room, where light dared not touch, a figure materialized—graceful, silent, and nearly ethereal. Lunara stepped forward, her form shimmering briefly as the intricate illusion that had kept her hidden dissolved. She had been with him the whole time, watching, listening, and ensuring that no one else had taken notice of their meeting.
"She took it," Lunara whispered, her voice smooth as silk, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You are great master."
Aiden glanced over at Lunara, his smile never faltering. "Of course she did. How could she resist?"
