Chapter 89. Thread by Thread

The council chamber was nearly empty. The scent of metal and old silence hung in the air. Lights dimmed to half-strength cast Harper Quinn in amber and shadow, her outline sharp against the polished marble floor. She stood motionless in the center, the echo of her final words still settling like dust.

“You told me the ribbon was a link, not a leash,” she’d said. And now, the ribbon was gone.

Only Knox remained. He lingered at the far side of the dais, his silhouette still powerful, but softened—his presence a question rather than a command.

“It was never meant to restrain you,” he replied. “It was meant to remind you there was still someone tethered to your choices.”

His voice didn’t break. But his stance did, just a little, as he stepped toward her, each step aligning with the tempo of her breath.

Harper didn’t move at first. She let the quiet fill the room—thicker now that truth had been spoken aloud. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides, and she