The emergency alert reached Lucien less than ten seconds after the press conference ended.
Elias's voice remained controlled, but tension tightened every word. The media room immediately shifted into motion around them. Security personnel moved toward exits while communications staff shut down external access feeds. Reporters continued shouting questions from behind the barricades, but Lucien ignored them all.
His attention was locked entirely on Seraphina. "Stay beside me," he said quietly.
She nodded once.
For the first time in days, she saw something sharper beneath his control. The secured convoy returned to Ashford Tower under heavy escort; rain streaked across the vehicle windows while city lights blurred outside. The atmosphere inside the car remained tense and quiet.
Elias sat across from them, rapidly reviewing security reports on his tablet.
"The breach lasted less than four minutes," he explained. "No visible forced entry. Internal override access was used again."
