The council chamber remained silent long after Selene's words.
Now she's your enemy.
The statement hung in the air like a blade waiting to fall.
Lord Darven was the first to recover.
"You overstep your authority, Lady Verenth."
Selene didn't even look at him.
Instead, she slowly circled the obsidian council table, her eyes fixed on Aria with sharp curiosity.
"I don't believe I do," she replied calmly.
Darven's jaw tightened.
"This council governs imperial matters. Your family's alliance does not grant you—"
Selene raised a single finger.
Darven stopped speaking.
Not because he wanted to.
But because something in her gaze made it impossible to continue.
When Selene finally spoke again, her voice was softer.
"But it does grant me the right to observe potential threats to the empire."
Her attention returned to Aria.
"Which you certainly are."
Aria met her gaze without hesitation.
"I'm starting to feel very popular tonight."
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"This situation does not require further provocation."
Selene tilted her head.
"Provocation?"
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Your Highness, your council already attempted murder."
The nobles shifted uncomfortably.
No one liked hearing the truth spoken so directly.
Selene stopped walking now, only a few steps from Aria.
Up close, the difference between them was striking.
Aria carried quiet control.
Selene carried dangerous confidence.
Two very different kinds of power.
Selene studied Aria for several seconds.
Then she asked the question everyone in the room wanted answered.
"Is it true?"
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"You'll have to be more specific."
Selene's eyes flickered briefly toward Aria's wrist.
"The Valen bloodline."
A ripple moved through the council chamber.
Some nobles shifted nervously.
Others watched with thinly hidden fascination.
Aria didn't answer immediately.
Instead she asked her own question.
"Do you always interrogate people the moment you meet them?"
Selene smiled again.
"Only the interesting ones."
Kael stepped between them slightly.
"That's enough."
But Selene ignored him.
Her gaze remained fixed on Aria.
"Your power shook the palace tonight."
That caused another stir among the nobles.
Several of them glanced toward Meridan.
Who remained silent.
Watching.
Selene continued.
"My family studies unusual abilities."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"And yours is very unusual."
Aria folded her arms.
"Is that a compliment?"
"Not yet."
The room remained tense.
Then Selene said something unexpected.
"I would like to see it."
Darven stood abruptly.
"That is not necessary."
Selene glanced at him with mild irritation.
"You're afraid."
Darven flushed angrily.
"This is not about fear."
Selene leaned casually against the edge of the council table.
"No?"
Her eyes moved slowly across the gathered nobles.
"Then why did you send assassins instead of negotiators?"
No one answered.
The silence was answer enough.
Selene turned back to Aria.
"You frightened them."
Aria shrugged slightly.
"They tried to kill me."
"Yes."
Selene's smile sharpened.
"And you survived."
For a moment the two women simply stared at each other again.
Then Selene took another step closer.
"Tell me something honestly."
Aria waited.
Selene's voice lowered.
"Did you enjoy it?"
The question shocked several council members.
Aria didn't react immediately.
Instead she thought about the fight in the corridor.
The pressure in the air.
The moment the assassins realized they were powerless.
Then she answered calmly.
"Yes."
Selene laughed softly.
A genuine sound this time.
"Well."
She straightened.
"That makes things simpler."
Darven slammed his hand on the table again.
"This discussion has become absurd!"
Selene looked mildly bored.
"Then perhaps you should stop making absurd decisions."
The noble's face turned red.
"Your family came here to secure a marriage alliance!"
"Yes."
"And you will not interfere with council matters."
Selene's smile vanished.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
"You misunderstand something, Lord Darven."
Her voice became colder.
"My family did not come here for permission."
A dangerous silence filled the chamber.
Selene gestured lightly toward Aria.
"We came because of her."
That statement stunned everyone.
Even Kael.
Aria studied Selene carefully now.
"Why?"
Selene's eyes glittered faintly.
"Because the last time a Valen awakened…"
She paused.
"…entire kingdoms changed."
The council members looked deeply uncomfortable.
Meridan finally spoke.
"You've done your research."
Selene inclined her head slightly.
"My family always does."
She looked back at Aria.
"And now I'm curious."
"About what?"
"How strong you really are."
Aria's gaze hardened slightly.
"That's not a question you want answered."
Selene's smile returned.
"Oh, I definitely do."
Kael stepped forward again.
"This is not a training arena."
"No," Selene agreed.
"But it might become one."
Darven pointed toward the doors angrily.
"This meeting is over."
Selene ignored him again.
Instead she addressed Aria directly.
"Walk with me."
Aria blinked once.
"That sounds like a threat."
"It's an invitation."
"To what?"
Selene's voice dropped slightly.
"A conversation without frightened politicians listening."
Kael immediately objected.
"That's not happening."
Selene glanced at him.
"You're afraid too."
"I'm cautious."
"Same thing."
Aria watched the exchange quietly.
Then she spoke.
"I'll go."
Kael turned sharply.
"No."
Aria met his gaze calmly.
"Relax, Your Highness."
She looked back at Selene.
"I'm curious too."
Selene nodded once.
"Good."
The two women turned toward the council chamber doors.
Leaving behind a room full of confused nobles.
And one prince who suddenly realized something dangerous.
The empire had just gained two storms instead of one.
And if those storms ever decided to work together—
The council would lose control of everything.