At that moment, Zion sat quietly beside Callista, half-listening to her lazy remarks while his attention remained on the performances taking place at the center of the royal garden.
Their corner of the banquet felt strangely detached from the tension gathering elsewhere. Callista had never seemed particularly interested in the political atmosphere of the imperial court, and tonight was no different. She sat there with her usual relaxed demeanor, looking almost like someone who had wandered into the banquet merely to pass the time.
Zion had no objection to that.
He was perfectly content to observe everything from the sidelines.
At least, he had been.
Until something suddenly changed.
Zion felt it before he understood it.
The sensation was unmistakable. It was as though countless invisible needles had pierced the air and turned toward him all at once.
He slowly raised his eyes.
Dozens of gazes had converged on him.
Then he saw Vanessa.
