Chapter 14. Tethered Wolves

The oscillating sirens of the Council Enforcers weren't just an alarm; they were the sound of Kade's carefully constructed world collapsing.

Lucien, the imposing, silver-haired chief of the Beta Council, halted three paces from the edge of the obsidian scar. His gaze, colder and sharper than any blade, took in the scene with devastating efficiency: the smoke curling from shattered light fixtures, the inert forms of the Betas scattered against the wall, and the catastrophic, fused crater in the floor.

But his eyes settled on Kade, standing next to the girl who was the obvious epicenter of the destruction, her body still vibrating with post-kinetic shock.

“Alpha Kade,” Lucien's voice was low, cutting through the heavy air. “This is a Level Four magical detonation. Catastrophic energy release. Under Section 32 of the Accord, the site is now under Council jurisdiction, and the source—” He gestured toward Aria. “—is subject to immediate protective custody