Alaric leaned forward, his eyes glinting with something dangerous — not quite malice or hope, but something alive. "Then you must also know their plan. They're not keeping me here for punishment anymore. They're waiting for the right time."
Celeste's brows furrowed. "What plan?"
Alaric's voice dropped, low and urgent. "To summon the beast. To rip it out from the Crimson Carrier's body and bind it to their will."
Adele's breath caught. "The beast?" she whispered. "They would dare try to call it forth directly?"
Alaric gave a short, humorless laugh. "Dare? They believe it is the only way to ensure power remains in their hands. The king, the council… even Lucien's position as carrier is only a temporary solution to them. They mean to force the beast into the open, to control it. But they have no idea what they are dealing with."
