2026-11-03 05:29:25
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Chapter 23
The air at Northern Howl Canyon tasted of cold old blood.For hours, the mountain pass had echoed with the rhythmic thud of siege rams and the crack of high-calibre rifles.Inside the broken courtyard of the inner fort, a dozen Pyreking shadow soldiers leaned against the blood-stained stone walls. Their battle armour was cracked and burned. Their ammo pouches hung flat and empty. They were what was left of the 3rd Defence Division, men trained to stand against whole armies, now a small, tired, bleeding group waiting for the last attack.“They’re moving up the lower ridge,” muttered Sergeant Dalton, a veteran whose left shoulder was bound in a makeshift tourniquet of dark cloth. He spat a mouthful of blood onto the dust and gripped the handle of his combat blade with trembling fingers. “Tell the boys to fix bayonets. If we go down in this courtyard, we take every last one of those temple bastards with us.”Beside him, a younger private named Kennedy stared out through the shattered sto
Chapter 22
For six months, this small, drafty room at the end of the manor hallway had been Tristan's quiet safe place. It had little more than a low single bed, a wooden wardrobe with a stiff hinge, and a small writing desk facing the dark garden. But tonight, everything had changed. The small bed was gone, and a proper double bed with clean white sheets stood in its place. This came after the sudden rush of registry-office paperwork and the terrible family dinner at Hill View Hall.Chloe stood near the mattress, her arms folded tightly across her chest. But the exhaustion of the day still weighed heavily on her shoulders. Her dark eyes surveyed the room, lingering for a moment on the crisp division line she had deliberately created.With slow movements, Chloe arranged two thick wool blankets across the bed, leaving a wide stretch of cold mattress down the middle like an impassable frontier.Tristan stood near the window, looking out into the quiet courtyard. He had shed his wine-stained jacket
Chapter 21
Deep beneath the foundations of Thornwall Castle, far away from the halls and the cheering crowds of the upper courtyards, lay the shadow chambers.This underground vault was built hundreds of years ago, during the bloodiest civil wars of Aldermere. Its thick stone walls soaked up sound, and the air always carried the cold smell of damp earth and old iron. In the middle of the vault stood a round table carved from dark stone. Four tall-backed chairs were placed around it, but only three of them had someone sitting in them.At the head of the table sat Chancellor Pascal Jacob. He looked like a wise grandfather, but under that look, his mind was as sharp and cruel as a razor blade. His fingers tapped a slow beat on the stone table.To his left sat Lady Isabella Thornwick, her posture stiff, her eyes reflecting the cold fire of the torchlight. To his right sat General Yannick Howard, a towering military veteran with a broad chest covered in medals and a face carved from granite.Above t
Chapter 20
Tristan stood up slowly from his chair. The red wine dripping from his jacket only added to the dark, chilling aura radiating from his frame. His cold eyes fixed on Pamela, which made her shiver.“A hand raised against my wife is a hand that forgets its manners,” Tristan said in a deep voice.With a single flick of his wrist, Tristan swung his arm.Slap!The sound of the strike echoed off the crystal chandeliers like a pistol shot. The force of the slap spun Pamela around on her heels, sending her staggering sideways across the floor.She tripped over the edge of a decorative floral display, lost her balance entirely, and crashed backwards into the central dessert table.Silver stands crashed onto the floor. Tall wedding cakes, chocolate mousse, fruit tarts, and glass bowls burst out in a messy mountain of cream, cake, and colored frosting. Pamela landed flat on her back in the middle of the ruined desserts. She was covered from head to toe in white buttercream, squashed strawberrie
Chapter 19
The private dining room was bathed in the golden glow of crystal chandeliers. Long tables draped in white silk were laden with silver chafing dishes, imported caviar, and towering tiers of frosted celebration cakes. It was Gordon Ellis’s night.Even though the thirty-day trust period was not over yet, Gordon acted as if he had already won the right to rule. He stood near the entrance holding a glass of champagne. He shook hands and accepted empty praise from friendly board members, relatives, and business partners on his side.“To the future stability of Ellis Group,” Gordon announced to the room, raising his glass high. “A stability built on clear vision, proper alliances, and the removal of emotional sentimentality.”Scattered applause rippled through the room. Near the corner table, sitting quietly amidst the celebration of their impending corporate overthrow, were Chloe and Tristan.Chloe sat with her hands folded in her lap. Her face was pale, tight with defiance. Across from he
Chapter 18
Chloe swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat, nodded firmly, and walked past her jeering cousins toward the private filing counter.Behind the Counter sat a tired clerk wearing half-moon spectacles. He looked up lazily as the couple approached, sliding a standard marriage registration form across the counter.“IDs, please,” the clerk muttered, stifling a yawn. “And the processing fee.”Chloe gave him her driver’s license and her work ID card. Tristan put a new hundred-dollar bill on the counter with his ID papers. These papers had been checked and approved through secure government offices years ago, so his private life stayed hidden.The clerk scanned the papers, typed a few things into his computer, and turned the signature pad toward them.“Alright, Miss Ellis. Sign on the primary line, and verify your legal name,” the clerk instructed routinely.Chloe picked up the stylus. She took a deep breath, looking down at the screen where her future, her company, and her father’s legac
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