Mathias sat in the absolute, crushing oblivion of his cell. The faint glimmer of light that had filtered through the narrow, barred window was completely receding, a grim sign that the midnight shroud had officially claimed the capital. Yet, despite the damp, biting chill radiating from the stone walls and the suffocating isolation, this wretched cage remained his only true sanctuary—the solitary place in the entire empire where he wasn't forced to suppress the violent, clawing monster raging beneath his skin.
Though Lucius had practically handed him the key to freedom days ago, Mathias had consciously chosen to stay behind. Breaking out too early would have shattered the fragile illusion, triggering alarms and stoking the suspicions of their enemies. He needed to play the part of the captive beast. He needed to wait, to let the pieces fall naturally into place.
But tonight, the meticulous rhythm of his confinement shattered.
