This Ends Tonight

Kaelia

The next three hours vanished in a rush of calls, bargaining, and half-meant promises. Valen got on the phone with every ally he had, every family that owed him, anyone who had a reason to keep Thornes from winning this thing. Some shot him down flat. Some wanted things we just couldn’t give. But a few, just enough, said yes.

By midnight, we had a real coalition. Five families, all ready to