Alex snapped his head toward the council, his sharp gaze locking onto the assembled figures with a mix of urgency and determination.
His pulse quickened, but he steadied himself, forcing his breath to remain even.
The room seemed to shrink around him as the weight of the moment pressed down on his shoulders.
"We have reached a decision concerning you," Draven repeated, his voice calm yet weighted with authority. "But it was not unanimous."
As he spoke, his sharp, silver eyes flickered toward Lucan, who sat rigid in his chair, arms crossed over his chest.
A deep scowl darkened Lucan's otherwise striking features, his emerald-green eyes burning with barely restrained discontent.
"But we have agreed on one thing," Draven continued, his gaze steady as it met Alex's. "You are… different. Special, even. There is something about you that intrigues us."
