The summons came not with a knock, but with the sharp, decisive click of my door being unlocked from the outside. I was already awake, staring at the ceiling, the conversation with Darius from the day before replaying in my mind like a song I couldn't get out of my head. The new understanding between us didn't feel like a victory. It felt like I had just agreed to play a game where he had written all the rules and was the only one who knew how to win.
Eli entered, his movements clipped and efficient, but there was a tension in his shoulders that hadn't been there yesterday. He didn't greet me with his usual calm neutrality. He went straight to the wardrobe.
"The King requires your presence at the palace," he said, his voice flat. "Immediately. The Duke is already preparing to leave."
I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. "The palace?" I asked, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach. "Why? Did I break something expensive?"
