Chapter 122. Shadows of Betrayal

Leon’s POV

I leaned back against the cold, stone wall, letting the shadows of the room cloak my presence. Zane was an idiot, spouting his vision of a new world where he ruled with an iron fist, speaking as if he had already won. Fool. His obsession with Xerina’s power would be his downfall. He couldn’t see beyond his own ego. But I could. And that’s why, soon enough, he would fall at my feet.

“Commander,” a voice rasped from the door.

I turned, spotting Rogers. His loyalty to Zane was paper-thin, as I’d predicted. “Come in,” I said, keeping my voice steady, calm. He respected strength, but more than that, he respected strategy.

He stepped inside, closing the door quietly behind him, eyes darting like a hunted animal. “Everything’s in place.”

“Good.” I smiled. “You’ve done well, Rogers.”

He shifted nervously. “Zane thinks we’re ready to move on Rasmus, but… your plan, Commander, it’s… ambitious.”

I let the silence stretch, watching him