Theresa.
The heavy oak doors of the council chamber shut with a deep, echoing thud, sealing away the last frantic, muffled cries of Bella's execution detail.
I stood in the center of the sunlit hall for a long, quiet moment, letting my hands rest lightly at my sides. The silence that settled over the polished stone floor wasn't heavy or uncomfortable; it was pure, unadulterated peace. For months, my chest had felt pulled tight by a invisible thread—first by the lingering synthetic poison, then by the chaotic, desperate demands of Alex, and finally by the looming shadow of Bella's venomous schemes.
Now, that thread was cut. Clean and permanent.
Nora stepped up beside my shoulder, her sharp posture relaxing just a fraction as her dark eyes scanned the room. "The perimeter guards have confirmed the transport detail is already moving toward the southern border gate, Ma'am. Her branding and official removal from the territory will be complete before noon."
