The council chamber remained silent long after Lucien vanished into the corridor.
No one moved at first.
The torches along the walls flickered wildly as the cold wind slipped through the open doors, carrying with it the distant howl of wolves somewhere beyond the estate walls.
Elara stood unmoving beside the council table.
Her heart still beat too fast.
The parchment with her father's signature lay before them like a curse.
Luca was the first to break the silence.
"Well."
He dragged a hand down his face.
"What the hell was that."
Marco exhaled slowly.
"That…"
"…was war."
One of the elders muttered under his breath.
"This is madness."
Another elder looked toward the doorway Lucien had exited.
"He walked into our council chamber."
Luca snorted.
"Yeah."
"Pretty damn arrogant."
Alessandro had not moved since Lucien left.
His gaze remained fixed on the empty doorway.
His jaw was tight.
His shoulders rigid.
Elara could almost feel the storm gathering under his skin.
