Soraya's POV
The hall fell silent the moment the doors creaked open. The faint sound of wheels rolling across the marble floor echoed like thunder in the heavy air. Every head turned. Even the guards stiffened as the frail figure of an old man was wheeled into the grand court, his presence somehow bending the atmosphere.
His hair was long and silvered with age, yet his face bore the markings of a man who had lived through years of battles. His eyes—glowing crimson beneath heavy lids—pierced through the hall, and for a moment, I forgot to breathe.
Lucas was the first to speak, his voice trembling. "Father…"
Thane's gaze snapped to him, sharp as a blade. Lucas immediately stepped back, lowering his head. Even Ryker and Erik seemed uneasy at his arrival. Whoever this man was, his presence alone commanded submission.
