**Aria's POV**
I sat stiffly in Magnus's study, my hands clenched in my lap as I waited for whatever explanation he was about to give me. He had called me here with promises of clarity, but my patience was wearing thin.
He stood in front of his desk, his gaze fixed on me with a mixture of determination and nervousness. For a man who could command armies and silence a room with a single word, he looked surprisingly uncertain.
"Well?" I prompted, crossing my arms. "Let's hear it, Magnus. What is so important that you had to call me here?"
Magnus sighed deeply, running a hand through his dark hair. "Aria, I know Selene's return has made things... complicated. But I need you to understand something."
I raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
