e's

ore I could even ra

figure carved from shadows and light, like

tthew. The man whose name was whispered like a curse at W

voice low and certain, like this was

a warning. The faintest smirk tugged at hi

o turn and run and battle with the iron will that had kept me standing th

nd deliberate. "Come in. Before someone t

with a weighty click, the soun

ts grain marked by years. The walls were lined with shelves of books, their spines worn and softened by

e a fireplace was. Its low crackle broke the silence in

standing, arms crossed, unwilling to

mber liquid into a short glass. His movements were unh

ment," I replied, sha

r leaving mine. "You called for h

not the whole story. You and Wakes...

sion stayed steady. "Because you'

me before I could sto

uilt his empire on control, on fear, on loyalty bought and bound. Ev

eliness. The silences that cut sharper than arguments. The w

ther move in your wa

s part

est." My arms tighte

d, stepping closer. The faint spic

ound. "Then

e eased. "Because... you're stronger than you realize. Because yo

t the edge of my tongue, but

me," he said with

t y

ou shouldn't trust anyone too

a long moment, the only thing I

"This is yours, the phone is untraceable. Use it for me. If Wakes

weight grounding me in th

asked. "What do

what I want. It's about balance. Wakes thinks he

d you think using me

"Protecting you. Because if you fall,

eling the weight of choices I h

" he said. "Yo

foreign, like it bel

"Tomorrow, we plan. There's a war comin

t from fear, but from the quiet, unsettling realization tha

t, I had escap

.. The real fi