more weight. Behind Eliana Packer, near the edge of the chamber, Bisonia drew near without s

ped. Still, Desmond Pa

aid calmly. "You haven't used thos

fened. "I n

," he corrected. "Th

h. "In case you're bringing u

" Desmond interrupted. "

g the borders. Faces flashed before her those mentioned when banners of odd designs hung overhead. Their nations fell y

the month," Desmond said. "The council p

ave been. Flat, that single syllable

onal. Someone with asse

there, without knowing it, he hovere

d back. "And

to eye they stayed, both unblinking, both set on what had to be done. A b

er voice had been, b

old rock. Air drifted, thick with words that never found their way out of the throat. What became visible did so only in s

n was

feeling. A quiet itc

. His features looked carved by something sharp and recent. Softness had left him long ago. This was the

is good news

ucien replied. "Which

d taken control of shares in three major foreign mining firms. These were companies holding ancient r

ss," Lucien said. "Th

na's lips. To someone unseen,

ifting slightly from w

nts a transnational alliance. A

. "Then let's give hi

g. "Desmond will investig

aid calmly. "Gold alway

that voice the kind pretending it has al

aid. "But I'

her head from side to side.

ked, moving near

k. They stayed out of sight, stealing moments whenever possible - always staying just before disaster caught up. N

iana said softly, "they'l

Lucien replied. "This just

rang softly but were

to go,"

kno

asped her fingers. His voice shifted no longer just

e never wavered. Always

quiet figure, he stayed motionless when the message

ies was ente

ici

res on the page changed, drawn carefully by motionless fingers. He stayed frozen even as words spun above

Powerful.

rest

oating near the ground, stars that seemed too heavy to stay up high. Inside each gleam were dangers, moments se

attention of the

he hidden , wealth that resist

is inherited, love is forbidden, and surv

e's entrance disruptive and dangerous. His corporate power challenges t

oodline continuity. Heirs matter more