Chapter
The council chamber felt smaller than usual.
Raphael noticed it the moment he stepped inside the way the air seemed to press closer.
Everywhere was tense, the way the stone walls swallowed sound instead of echoing it.
His gaze went immediately to the long table at the center of the room, One seat was empty.
It was Siluren's.
Raphael paused for a fraction of a second longer than necessary, his eyes lingering on the vacant space.
No guards stood behind it. No scent marked it. It was as if Siluren had been erased rather than simply absent.
It was rather eerie, but he knew it was better.
Only then did Raphael move, pulling out his own chair and taking his seat with measured calm.
Across from him, Lydia reclined with practiced ease, fingers steepled beneath her chin, sharp eyes glittering with something like amusement.
Moran sat beside her, broad shoulders rigid, expression unreadable but tense.
