CHAPTER ELEVENDeclan walked toward the lobby, every step echoing louder than it should.Behind him, Zion gripped his sleeve.“Declan… maybe we should leave through the back.”Asher whispered, “A royal envoy doesn’t sound like good news.”Ashton added quietly, “What if they’re here to arrest you?”Declan said nothing. His jaw was set, his expression unreadable.Duke Ambrose followed at a distance, his earlier confidence replaced with visible unease.The hallway opened into the main restaurant floor.The scene that greeted them was chaos frozen in place.Every table had gone silent. Forks hovered mid-air. Conversations died mid-sentence. Even the piano had stopped playing.Standing in the center of the lobby were six men in black tactical suits. Their faces were stone. Their hands rested near concealed weapons. They stood in formation—three on each side—creating a path down the middle.At the end of that path stood a woman.She was tall, composed, dressed in a sharp charcoal suit that

CHAPTER THIRTEENDeclan’s jaw tightened as he stared at Marcus Blackwell.The man who claimed to be Crown Prince. The man who’d been hunting him for five years.“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Declan said evenly.Marcus’s smile sharpened.“Playing dumb doesn’t suit you, nephew. That card in your pocket? There are only twelve in existence. I know exactly who you are.”“Then you know I’m not interested in whatever family reunion you’re planning.”Mrs. Laurent stood frozen between them, her eyes darting nervously from one man to the other.Marcus took a step closer, his voice dropping to something almost intimate.“You can’t hide anymore, Declan. The moment you used that card, you lit a beacon. Every person with connections—every person who matters—knows you’re alive now.”“Good,” Declan said quietly. “I’m done hiding.”“Are you?” Marcus tilted his head. “Because from where I stand, you look like a frightened boy playing dress-up. Still wearing those pathetic clothes. Still pre

CHAPTER FIFTEENDeclan sat in the empty chair facing the panel.His hands rested calmly on his lap, but his heart was pounding against his ribs.Dean Whitmore adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat.“Mr. Hawthorne, after careful consideration of all evidence and testimony presented today, this panel has come to a decision regarding your status at Howard University.”The room was silent except for the faint hum of the air conditioning.“We find that your behavior represents a serious threat to the safety and integrity of this institution. Therefore, effective immediately, you are suspended pending further investigation.”Suspended.Not expelled.Not yet.Declan exhaled slowly.Professor Chen leaned forward, his expression hard.“However, the panel believes that suspension may not be sufficient in this case.”Dean Whitmore nodded.“We have serious concerns about your ability to function in a professional medical environment. Your violent outburst, your arrest, your sudden and unexp

CHAPTER SEVENTEENThe invitation had arrived that morning.Declan stared at it, sitting at the breakfast table in the palace.Heavy cream cardstock. Gold embossed lettering. The Grayson family crest at the top.“You are cordially invited to an evening reception hosted by Governor Marcus Grayson and family. Black tie. Eight PM.”Ms. Sonia sat across from him, watching his reaction.“The Grandmaster wants you to attend,” she said quietly.Declan looked up at her.“Why?”“Because you need to see them. See how they operate. How they treat people they believe are beneath them.”She paused.“And because one day, you will destroy them. But first, you must understand them completely.”Declan set down the invitation.“They expelled me yesterday. They arrested me. And now I am supposed to walk into a party hosted by Stefan’s father and just… observe?”“Yes.”“What if they recognize me?”“They will not,” Ms. Sonia said. “To them, you are nobody. A poor student who got what he deserved. They will

CHAPTER NINETEENThree days after the party humiliation, Declan sat in the Grandmaster’s private office.The old man slid a thick folder across the mahogany desk.“Your first real test.”Declan opened the folder.Inside were documents about a company called Sterling Medical Supplies. Financial reports. Board member profiles. Market analysis.“What is this?”“A failing company,” the Grandmaster said. “They supply medical equipment to hospitals across the state. Five years ago, they were worth two hundred million dollars. Now they are worth barely twenty million and sinking fast.”He tapped the folder.“The CEO is corrupt. The board is incompetent. And they just lost their biggest contract with Metropolitan Hospital Group.”Declan looked up.“Metropolitan Hospital Group. That is Stefan’s family company.”The Grandmaster smiled.“Exactly. Governor Grayson sits on the Metropolitan board. Three months ago, they terminated their contract with Sterling Medical and switched to a competitor. A