Chapter 17 · My Father's Second Order

The black box clicked once.

Then Elias Vey's voice filled the ruined control chamber.

"Second directive. If the first fails, proceed without delay. Nora Vey is to marry the surviving heir of the Thunder Crown. She will gain his trust, remain at his side until the royal power awakens, and then—"

The recording crackled beneath a wash of static.

Nora's burned hand clenched around the edge of the console. The metal bit into her palm. Blood slid between her fingers, bright against the soot.

"—she will take the royal seal."

The words did not echo. They seemed to sink straight into the stone.

Somewhere below them, the arena groaned. Broken execution pylons spat blue sparks into the dark. Smoke crawled along the ceiling, carrying the bitter smell of scorched copper and wet ash. Nora heard Beckett swear under his breath. She heard the ragged pull of Kane's breathing.

She did not hear her own.

The contract ring around her finger flared white-hot.

Nora jerked back with a sharp cry. The thin silver band tightened, its etched runes crawling like living insects beneath her skin.