Derek

The council chamber was silent, the air thick with tension. I sat at the head of the long, ornate table, my fingers curled tightly against the armrests of my throne. Across from me, Giovanni stood with his shoulders squared, his expression grim and unwavering.

I had always known Giovanni to be sharp, a warrior in his own right, but today, there was something else in his eyes—something darker. A weight that came from witnessing something truly vile.

He had returned only days ago, ...