Cassian understood too late that the conversation had shifted way beyond him.
He had wanted to protect Elias by controlling the terms of the alliance.
Instead, Elias had just endorsed it.
Publicly, in fact.
And in doing so, Elias had removed Cassian's ability to retreat.
But Cassian wasn't going to let it just slide like that.
He cleared his throat.
The clatter of silverware died.
The council members and high nobles leaned in, their eyes darting between the three figures at the high table.
Cassian did not react immediately. He looked like the lion he was—patient, lethal, and entirely unimpressed.
He fixed his gaze on Vane until the older man began to shift in his seat.
"And what instability, Lord Vane," Cassian asked, his voice low and smooth as polished stone, "do you believe requires such... desperate urgency?"
The question was a trap. It was controlled intimidation. Cassian was forcing Vane to name what he had heard.
