Three Days Later
The Academy's East Tower, seventh floor. Evening settling like a blanket over the grounds.
Draven climbed the spiral stairs, footsteps echoing. Three days since he'd broken into Marcus's study. Three days of gathering allies, preparing evidence, waiting for the inevitable.
Duke Aldric was dying. Fast. The healers had stopped trying to save him—just keeping him comfortable now. Hours left, maybe. A day at most.
Soon.
But tonight wasn't about death. Tonight was about something else.
He reached Celeste's office. Knocked.
"Come in."
She was waiting. Sitting on that plush couch, wine already poured. But the atmosphere was different from last time. Charged. Electric.
They both knew what was happening tonight.
"Lord Arclight." Celeste smiled. Predatory. "You're late."
"Class ran long. Professor Thorne wouldn't shut up about elemental resonance theory."
