The morning sun barely touched the horizon when the summons arrived. A black-winged raven, its feathers shimmering with unnatural iridescence, landed on the balcony of Arkanis' private chambers. The sight of the creature made Zyre visibly pale, and even Arkanis stiffened as he untied the scroll strapped to its claw.
Elara watched from across the room, her arms crossed. "I take it that's from your friends at the council?"
"They're not friends," Arkanis muttered, breaking the wax seal. He unrolled the parchment, his sharp gaze scanning its contents. His jaw tightened as he read.
"What does it say?" Elara pressed, moving closer.
Zyre answered for him, his voice grim. "They've summoned him to the Great Assembly Hall. An in-person audience with the council."
"Why?" Elara asked, though she already suspected the answer.
"Because," Arkanis said, his voice low, "they don't trust me. And they want to make sure I remember my place."
The room fell silent, the weight of the situation pressing down on them like a heavy fog.
"So what's the plan?" Elara finally asked, breaking the tension. "You can't walk in there blind. If they're suspicious of you, they'll be looking for any excuse to get rid of you."
Arkanis sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "The plan is to tell them exactly what they want to hear. I'll maintain the façade, as I always have."
Elara frowned. "And if they see through it?"
"Then I'll improvise," Arkanis said, though the faint edge of doubt in his voice didn't go unnoticed.
"No," Elara said firmly. "That's not good enough. If you're going, I'm going with you."
Zyre let out a sharp laugh. "Oh, that's rich. A Hero accompanying a Demon Lord to the council meeting? That'll go over well."
"Think about it," Elara argued, ignoring Zyre's sarcasm. "My presence might throw them off balance. It'll force them to think twice about acting rashly. And besides," she added, her tone softer, "you'll need someone watching your back."
Arkanis studied her for a long moment, his golden eyes searching hers. "You're willing to put yourself in harm's way for this?"
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't," she replied simply.
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched Arkanis' lips. "Very well. But if you're coming, you'll need a convincing cover. The council can't know who—or what—you truly are."
Elara smirked. "Leave that to me."