It wasn't a subtle approach or a threatening gesture. It was a full-speed attack, closing the distance between them in a blur of motion that would have been invisible to normal human eyes. His fist drove forward in a straight punch aimed at Zachary's solar plexus, not a killing blow, but one that would definitely send a message if it landed.Zachary's body reacted before his conscious mind finished processing the threat. He pivoted on his back foot, letting Marcus's fist whistle past his ribs with maybe an inch to spare, and felt the displaced air against his shirt.‘Fast. Really fast. This isn't just martial arts training, he's channeling energy to enhance his speed!’But if Marcus thought speed would be enough, he was about to be seriously disappointed.The punch that missed was immediately followed by another, then another, a rapid-fire combination that blurred through the space where Zachary had been standing. But Zachary was already moving, his own enhanced reflexes allowing h

Before Zachary could respond, before he could demand more concrete answers, Marcus reached into his jacket and withdrew something.It was a ball, roughly the size of a tennis ball, made from material that looked like black jade shot through with veins of silver. He tossed it casually, a gentle underhand throw that crossed the space between them.Zachary caught it reflexively with his left hand, his eyes never leaving Marcus's face even as his fingers closed around the smooth, cool surface. The object was heavier than it looked, and he could feel something inscribed on its surface.They were patterns that his fingers traced automatically, recognizing them as some form of runic script though he couldn't read the specific meaning."Don't lose that," Marcus said, his tone suddenly serious, all traces of humor gone. "Keep it with you, somewhere safe. I'll be in touch when the time is right, when we can talk properly without half the city's power players trying to eavesdrop.""What is—" Z

All while his mind spun through possibilities, scenarios, threats. Who would his father send without warning? What required codes so secure even Seraphina hadn't been briefed? And how did it connect,.if it connected at all, to Marcus Zhao and his cryptic warnings about factions and power struggles?The private room turned out to be one of the mansion's smaller conference spaces, tastefully furnished but clearly designed for business rather than socializing. The guard opened the door, stepped aside, and gestured for Zachary to enter.Inside, two figures stood waiting, both wearing dark cloaks that concealed their features and forms. They stood with a kind of rigid formality, positioned on the far side of the room as if establishing territory, as if marking their importance through spatial dominance.Zachary felt his instincts flare again, his dragon energy stirring in response to some unidentified threat."Who are you?" he demanded, not bothering with pleasantries. It had been th

"Responsibilities," Thyra corrected. "The main line, your father, and now you as his heir, has authority over the branches. But with that authority comes responsibility. You're supposed to be informed about family activities, to mediate disputes, to represent our interests when dealing with other major bloodlines. And we're supposed to keep you updated about threats, opportunities, internal problems."She paused, and when she continued her voice had taken on an edge of accusation. "These meetings should have started the moment you were acknowledged as Valerius's son. The fact that they didn't, that you've been back for weeks without any contact from the branch families, is a deliberate slight. Your father is isolating you from your own people, and we don't know why."Zachary absorbed this, his mind working through implications. "So you're here to... what? Inform me about what I've been missing? Establish contact against my father's apparent wishes?""We're here because we have a right

That's when he heard it, the soft sound of footsteps in the hallway outside. Not the heavy, measured tread of the shadow guards, but something lighter. Familiar.The door opened, and Seraphina walked in.She'd changed at some point, he realized. The blue gown from earlier was gone, replaced by more practical attire, dark slacks and a fitted jacket that somehow managed to be both professional and vaguely military in styling. Her long hair was pulled back in a severe ponytail, and those unsettling pale eyes fixed on him with an intensity that made Zachary want to squirm.She was still frowning, he noted. The expression wasn't quite as severe as when she'd nearly manifested her full power earlier, but there was definitely residual anger simmering beneath her controlled surface.The silence stretched between them, awkward and heavy. Zachary opened his mouth to speak, to break the tension with some kind of joke or deflection, but before he could form words, Seraphina moved.She dropped