A figure stepped inside.Not Lila.

But someone worse.

Beta Cavan.

Cold-eyed. Loyal. Brutal.

His gaze landed on her like a dagger.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, voice flat, almost bored.

Maren dropped into a bow. “Forgive me, sir. I—I was sent to collect the elder’s seal for archiving. I didn’t mean to—”

“By whose order?”

She hesitated.

He took a step closer.

“You were snooping,” he said simply. “And that’s not your place.”

Her mouth went dry. “I ...