not s

rest feels like a fragile luxury I can no longer afford. My apartment smells of dust and fresh plywood from the temporary boards nailed over th

heavily behind my eyes, b

mething ins

etaph

emot

es

areness brushing against mine. Instinct. Watchfulness. A quiet, coiled st

w

should sound

eels disturbi

ructural compromise." They recommend I relocate for at least several days. The phrasing is

ally. Essentials. Laptop. Do

ement fee

injury and recovery. I do not unders

d, the thread in my ch

is

nds at the

firm

po

ising beneath my skin. The prese

k clothing stand in the hallway. They are not the red-eyed

osture give

nd like

ys respectfully. "The Alph

tiffens. "

es

tional?" I

ng-almost amusement-

l," the second replies. "

r expression

t here to d

not here ca

e?" I

all ter

e exactly

es toward the stairw

woman wou

s, friends, anyone to anchor herself

apartment behind

ide me hums fain

cogni

ut of the c

d us as concrete gives way to tree-lined roads. The air grows cooler, c

he wooded outskirts makes the threa

road flanked by tall trees that block out much of the sunlight. The

I s

htf

n the traditional sense, nor quite a fortress. It is something between the two-solid, imposing, built for permanence. Balconies ove

not

dom hidden i

ps before t

dozens of eye

cur

e w

penly

de my chest

feel

e," someon

ough the gathered wo

y, refusing to show uncertainty. If th

t the entrance open

steps

o fought wolves in my apartment and more like a ruler stepping before his court. His gaze loc

," he say

ve much choi

intly. "You alway

I ask po

a moment, then s

ed beams. Stone walls lined with banners bearing an emblem I do not recogniz

here is

rt

ok

d beneath pol

h the main hall,

sh and pull of energy brushing agai

s of

ck against my s

ch," a female voice says

n sli

s forward fr

ling over one shoulder. Her posture exudes confidence, not the

are a c

glow

asse

es smoothly, "she caus

n hardens slight

is is

ri

oes n

es not

hough I am an inconv

says. "The doctor who aw

on for my medical credentials t

ation crosses her featur

k boldly,

clearly,"

us sharpens, subtl

me. "You must understand," she says, voice cool, "this pack

destabiliz

... unex

inside m

ggres

ren

ly-not enough to block, but

r my protect

tightens almos

w," she

ication

"If there is something y

narrow

nderstand hierarchy. And yet your blood-if it is what he claims-could co

of the surroundi

personal jea

s poli

ant command?"

es not ask permis

silence stretc

his voice carrying

n," he says. "

snaps to

ill

ly. "You cannot control w

ree to traini

to come,"

curve faintly,

, "we should test whether

around us s

te

rkens. "This i

she truly carries royal bloo

oo

echoes in

begins to

from

omethi

s again, reacting to the ri

carefully. "You

intly. "Or perhaps she is

enge is d

cul

es around us

it

n my chest p

confusion

res

clearing space in th

" she say

grows

jaw t

ering Nightfall, I realize that

bout po

er I want

t to decide w