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He stood by the window again afterward, hand lightly against the cold glass, and thought, Not before the auction. Not unless I am forced. If I do this now, everything becomes unstable.
He made a new decision that night.
If bloodlust rose too fast before the auction, he would arrange a controlled release the moment the event ended — assuming he survived the event itself.
That thought was not comforting. It was simply practical.
On the sixth day, Dawn House and the auction house felt like a drawn bow. Everyone moved faster. Servants had been warned twice, then warned again.
Floor cloths were changed. Lantern placements were finalized. Invitations had all gone out. Confirmations had begun returning.
The item storage chamber below the auction hall was locked with more than keys. Blood threads, hidden seals, positioning tricks, and Auri's silent inspection made sure no one reached the ten chosen pieces without stepping into a trap.
