Akeel remained seated across from Danaya, his attention fixed on the dissolution agreement.The room had gone quiet.A few moments earlier, he had been prepared to leave House Valcrest with a legal divorce and return to his Second Spark Workshop. Now Danaya had paused over one particular clause.She looked up from the document."You seem amused."Danaya's expression did not change."I am not amused.""Then why are you looking at that clause?"She tapped the parchment with one finger.Akeel followed her gaze.The words were simple.All wealth acquired by either spouse from the date of marriage registration until the date of legal dissolution shall be recognized as shared marital property.Akeel remembered the marriage seal on the certificate.When the Valcrest officials had registered his marriage to Danaya, they had activated the crystal seal beneath the document. The seal recorded both of their energy signatures and marked the exact moment their marriage became legally recognized.Th

For several seconds, nobody moved.Rowan looked at Akeel, then slowly turned his eyes toward Danaya.Cael lowered his gaze.Daren suddenly found the floor very interesting.Akeel noticed none of it. His attention remained fixed on the dissolution document.Danaya's voice was quieter when she finally spoke.“Your future wife?” she asked.“Yes,” Akeel replied. “I was supposed to return to Havenrock tomorrow. We were planning to marry after I got back.”Danaya's fingers rested against the table.“You had already made plans?”Akeel nodded.“The arrangements were made before your people brought me here. I only need to return home.”Danaya stared at him.Akeel did not understand why the subject seemed to bother her. Their marriage had been forced. She had never wanted him, and he had never wanted her.Ending it should have been simple.He picked up the pen again.Danaya stopped him.“Wait.”Akeel looked at her.“My grandmother still believes you are my husband,” Danaya said. “She may wake t

By dawn, the storm had finally passed.Akeel came downstairs dressed for the Council's Court.He expected the estate to be quiet.Instead, he heard an older woman's voice coming from the main hall."Put the flowers there. No, not beside the window. Move them closer to the entrance."Akeel stopped.Seraphine was awake.Servants hurried around the hall carrying flowers and arranging the room.Seraphine stood in the center of it all.She looked far healthier than she had the previous night.Her energy core was still weak, but her face had regained its color.Then she saw Akeel.Her entire expression brightened."My grandson-in-law!"Akeel froze.Seraphine walked toward him with a delighted smile."You're still here."Akeel did not know how to respond.Seraphine reached for his hand."I knew you wouldn't leave me again."Her smile suddenly faded.She stared at him."Wait."The warmth disappeared from her face."You left me before."Akeel stiffened.Seraphine's fingers tightened around his

Outside the train station, Akeel found Lyra standing near the entrance.She looked pale.One hand rested against the stone railing beside her.Akeel's expression changed at once.He crossed the short distance between them."Lyra, what happened?" he asked.Lyra looked at him, relief appearing in her tired eyes."I thought you weren't coming," she said. "I called you so many times."Akeel took out his phone. The screen was filled with missed calls and unread messages.His phone had been silent while he dealt with the Court and the Valcrest estate."I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't see them."Lyra studied his face."Are you still going to marry me?"Akeel answered without hesitation."Yes."The tension left her shoulders."But you disappeared," Lyra said quietly. "I thought maybe you changed your mind.""I didn't."Akeel reached for her wrist.Her skin felt cold.He closed his fingers around her hand and quietly focused his energy.A small amount of healing energy flowed from his core into

The village had almost emptied.Nearly everyone had gone to Lyra's house.The narrow streets were quiet again, with only a few villagers lingering near their homes. Their phones, crystal-link communicators, and small video recorders were still capturing the commotion from a distance.Akeel walked toward his family's house.His thoughts were heavy.Two days ago, his only concern had been returning to Havenrock and marrying Lyra.Then he had been forced into a marriage with Danaya.The Energy Court had delayed the dissolution for thirty days.And now Lyra had been revealed as the missing heir of the Valcrest family.Too much had happened in too little time.Akeel turned onto another narrow street.Then he stopped.His expression changed.Someone was nearby.He could feel an aura.A familiar one.Akeel slowly turned his head.The energy was faint at first.Then it became clearer.He knew that aura.His mind immediately returned to the Valcrest estate.Danaya.Akeel frowned.That was impo