POV: Zane

The side chamber is smaller than the main hall and twice as quiet. No gallery. No polished speeches. Just a long table, four chairs on our side, and Nova sitting alone across from us with her wrists unbound but her options running out.

I lean against the wall near the door and watch her. The perfect posture is still there. The careful tilt of the chin. But the emerald gown from yesterday is gone. She wears plain dark clothes and the expression of someone who has finally done the math and realized the numbers no longer work in her favor.

Caius sits at the table with the formal...