~Kaida Orion POV~
Outside the hall, torches lit the courtyard where the envoy waited. But between courthouse gate and safety, lies a narrow stairwell through moonlit archives...and someone inside wants to carve our names again in ink.
Our contract was declared official, but someone lit an echo deep in registry records.
Tomorrow, we would dive into the archive passages where forged names breathe under candlelight.
The evening chill bit through my cloak as we approached the council vestibule. Lunara slept against me, safe in her satchel carrier, her silver ring zipped in place. The golden-eyed envoy stood in torchlight, waiting at the mouth of a hidden stair wrapped in iron.
Moon Priest whispered, "This door leads under the registry into archive passages and the council wants your presence, but House Wei may strike there."
Biat's hand hovered near the archive chest strapped across his back. "We should send Lunara away."
I shook my head. "No! She belongs with the line now."
