The courtroom was silent.
Too silent.
Everyone was staring at the Veil.
It hung above the center of the hall like a curtain made of living smoke. Dark. Ancient. Watching.
For hours it had remained still.
But now—
It moved.
Slowly at first.
Then suddenly the black surface rippled like water struck by a stone.
A deep humming sound filled the courtroom.
Low.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
The elders rose from their seats almost at the same time.
"What is happening?" one of them whispered.
The humming grew louder.
The Veil twisted again.
This time the movement was violent.
Like something inside it was struggling.
Dorian stepped forward slowly.
His sharp eyes studied the Veil.
"This has never happened before," he said quietly.
Across the hall, Alaric remained seated.
But his fingers tightened on the arm of his chair.
His calm face did not change.
Yet his eyes darkened.
He was thinking.
Watching.
Calculating.
Meanwhile—
