The days following the discovery of the nobles' secret meetings were marked by a new tension in the palace. The council chambers, once filled with the noise of bickering and debates, now carried an unnerving quiet. The smiles exchanged between certain nobles seemed sharper, their words layered with meaning that Damien couldn't ignore.
Damien sat in the safe house, the flickering light from the lantern casting long shadows across the table. Amara and Carys sat across from him, their expressions serious as they went over their findings from the past few days.
"Lord Velron is definitely in on whatever's brewing," Amara said, her sharp blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Caught him sneaking out of the treasury wing last night. Tried to act casual, but he was sweating like a pig."
