~LUCIAN'S POV
At the end of the hall, Dove sat on a throne that looked like it had been pulled from the world itself, dark and ancient against the dim light.
Her eyes were glowing violet as she watched the center of the room with a coldness that made the air feel thin.
Alaric and Zephyrus were already there, but they weren't standing beside her.
They were on their knees in the middle of the marble floor, their heads bowed and their hands resting open at their sides in a posture of complete surrender.
Zephyrus was the first one to speak, his voice cracking as it echoed against the high ceiling.
"Dove, look at us," he rasped, his gaze lifting just enough to find her face. "You know who we are. You know we wouldn't have come here if there was any other way."
Her expression remained detached, looking at him as if he were a servant who had entered the room without permission.
