When the ceremony finally concluded and the cameras' glare faded, Lucas sank into the cushioned silence of the state limousine. The city lights slid across the windows in fleeting streaks as the motorcade carried him toward the hotel, where a brief rest awaited him before the gala dinner.
Lucas pulled out his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. The call connected almost instantly. "Hey, Clift," Lucas murmured, leaning back against the seat. "How's it going over there?"
"Everything's going according to plan," Clift replied, his voice crisp over the line.
Lucas's brows tightened. "And Lory? Is she safe?"
"Relax," Clift said, as if discussing the weather. "Lory's in the Mystic Realm. She's safer than you are."
Only then did Lucas exhale, his shoulders loosening. "Good. Then what's next?"
