Lucian’s phone buzzes; Leopold has called an emergency closed-door meeting of the European Maritime Board for the next morning.

The loud vibration of the phone echoed off the stone walls of the quiet living room. Lucian stepped away from the warm hearth, picking up his secure device with a heavy, steady hand. His dark eyes narrowed as he read the official notice flashing across his screen.

"Leopold just moved his timeline up," Lucian said, his deep voice carrying a cold, sharp edge. "He called an emergency closed-door meeting of the European Maritime Board at nine o'clock tomorrow morning in central Geneva. He wants the judges to sign off on the...