The rage that had consumed Alexander moments ago, the fury he directed at his security chief, had subsided into a cold, terrifying focus. He was across the room now, standing by the vast windows of the penthouse study, his back to me. He held his private cell to his ear, his voice a low, precise murmur as he organized the immediate security deployment. I could feel the vibrations of his power radiating across the room, mobilizing teams, resources, and legal artillery.

But his war felt ...