Naomi’s Pov

The thing about taking control is that it never comes without consequence.

I felt it the morning after I took the floor, when the building woke up sharper than usual. Not louder. Sharper. Like everyone had decided where they stood and was waiting to see who blinked first.

I didn’t blink.

I sat at the table with my coffee and read through the overnight summaries. Neutral language. Clean phrasing. But underneath it all, I could see the shift. People weren’t pretending anymore. They were choosing sides quietly and calling it pragmatism.

Cassian stood near the window, phone pressed to his ear, listening more than speaking. His posture was...