Three days passed in a blur of preparation and tension, and now the moment had finally arrived.
Draven stood backstage in the Royal Courthouse, a massive stone building that had witnessed centuries of justice. The structure was old and imposing, with thick walls that seemed designed to absorb sound and emotion alike. But today, even those ancient stones couldn't contain the roar of the crowd outside. The entire capital had shown up for this spectacle—the biggest trial in kingdom history. A Crown Prince publicly tried for treason. Unprecedented didn't even begin to cover it.
Mara adjusted his collar, her fingers smoothing the fabric with practiced efficiency. *Rustle.* "You ready?"
"Yeah," Draven said, though his jaw was tight.
"Nervous?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying his calm facade.
"Nope."
"Liar. I can see your jaw ticking."
