Kael POV

The council chamber emptied at last. The murmurs of lords and vipers faded down the corridors until only the echoes remained. I stayed at the table, staring at the maps, but I wasn’t seeing them. My mind was still replaying Aria’s fire as she cut them down with her words. She had not looked at me once.

The door opened again. No knock. Only one man did that.

“Daniel,” I muttered.

He stepped in, closing the door behind him. My oldest friend. My shadow in every battle. The only man who had the right to stand across from me without bowing. His dark eyes studied me with the...