Selene didn't wait.
She went straight to Kael.
The guards hesitated when she entered his war chamber—but no one stopped her.
Inside, the walls were covered in maps. Lines of strategy. Markings of war.
Kael stood at the center of it all.
Unmoved.
"You're either bold," he said without turning, "or reckless."
Selene stepped closer. "Neither."
He looked at her now.
"I'm informed."
That caught his attention.
"There's a traitor in your court," she continued. "Lady Virelle."
Silence followed.
Then—
"I know."
Selene blinked once.
Not surprised.
But calculating.
"Then why is she still alive?" she asked.
Kael stepped closer, his presence steady, controlled.
"Because she's useful."
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly.
"She's trying to kill me."
"Yes."
The word came without hesitation.
No apology.
No concern.
Selene studied him more carefully now.
"You're using her."
Kael didn't deny it.
"She leads to something bigger," he said.
Something darker settled into the air.
Selene understood.
This wasn't about petty betrayal.
This was about power beneath power.
"And me?" she asked. "Where do I fit?"
Kael's gaze held hers.
"You don't."
A pause.
"You were never part of the plan."
Selene didn't flinch.
Instead, she stepped closer.
"Then your plan is flawed."
That made him still.
"For someone not included," he said slowly, "you speak boldly."
Selene's voice remained calm.
"Because I've already changed it."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
He was studying her again.
But differently now.
Not just as a political piece—
But as something unpredictable.
Something dangerous.
"You're not what I expected," he admitted.
Selene's lips curved slightly.
"Neither are you."
Kael's voice dropped.
"You're not part of the plan."
Then, quieter—
"You're the disruption."
And for the first time—
Selene realized just how powerful that made her.
Selene didn't wait.
She went straight to Kael.
The guards hesitated when she entered his war chamber—but no one stopped her.
Inside, the walls were covered in maps. Lines of strategy. Markings of war.
Kael stood at the center of it all.
Unmoved.
"You're either bold," he said without turning, "or reckless."
Selene stepped closer. "Neither."
He looked at her now.
"I'm informed."
That caught his attention
"There's a traitor in your court," she continued. "Lady Virelle."
Silence followed.
Then—
"I know."
Selene blinked once.
Not surprised.
But calculating.
"Then why is she still alive?" she asked.
Kael stepped closer, his presence steady, controlled.
"Because she's useful."
Selene's eyes narrowed slightly.
"She's trying to kill me."
"Yes."
The word came without hesitation.
No apology.
No concern.
Selene studied him more carefully now.
"You're using her."
Kael didn't deny it.
"She leads to something bigger," he said.
Something darker settled into the air.
Selene understood.
This wasn't about petty betrayal.
This was about power beneath power.
"And me?" she asked. "Where do I fit?"
Kael's gaze held hers.
"You don't."
A pause.
"You were never part of the plan."
Selene didn't flinch.
Instead, she stepped closer.
"Then your plan is flawed."
That made him still.
"For someone not included," he said slowly, "you speak boldly."
Selene's voice remained calm.
"Because I've already changed it."
Another pause.
Longer this time.
He was studying her again.
But differently now.
Not just as a political piece—
But as something unpredictable.
Something dangerous.
"You're not what I expected," he admitted.
Selene's lips curved slightly.
"Neither are you."
Kael's voice dropped.
"You're not part of the plan."
Then, quieter—
"You're the disruption."
And for the first time—
Selene realized just how powerful that made her.