THRONE OF WOLVES (section B HBT²AK)
ARIA
The message arrived three weeks after Thomas's arrest while I was reviewing protocol drafts with a Council subcommittee that had spent the last hour arguing about whether "voluntary" meant actually voluntary or voluntary with strongly encouraged participation.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number. I almost ignored it until I saw the first line of the preview and my blood went cold enough that the Council member mid-sentence stopped talking and asked if I was alright.
I wasn't.
Another one like you. Eastern territory. They're hunting her. She doesn't know what she can do yet. Found your mother's name in old records and traced the connection. Please help. She's sixteen. They're closing in.
~ L.M.
I showed Kael the message under the table and watched his expression shift from focused attention on protocol language to the specific calculation he wore when immediate action became necessary.
