Kael’s POV

The command room emptied hours ago. I stayed behind, checking the readings again. The wards had steadied but only after three irregular pulses. That meant interference, not failure. When the monitors dimmed, I knew the shift wasn’t random. Something had crossed.

I took the patrol route myself. No guards, no escorts. Silence moved with me through the perimeter trail. The city slept behind its borders, unaware that the lines protecting it were bleeding. Every instinct told me the ...