Chapter 248
The night had thickened like a heavy shroud over the restless city of Nevan. From the balcony of the aging inn, Kael stood still, arms resting on the rough wooden railing, eyes cast down upon the streets below.
The once bustling alleyways were now occupied by the rhythmic march of armored boots, the sharp glint of polished spears reflecting in the sparse lamplight. Guards prowled in clusters—some interrogating civilians, others checking house doors and corners like hounds hunting a scent. The occasional shout broke through the stillness, followed by the thudding of hurried footsteps and the rattling of gear.
From his vantage point, Kael could see the checkpoints forming at intersections, torches burning brightly as soldiers scanned each passerby with hostile suspicion. It was clear the city was in lockdown.
The nobility and commoners alike had retreated into their homes, peeking out from behind closed curtains, while fear loomed like a ghost over every rooftop and shadow.
He watched a squad of guards stop a cloaked man near the fountain. They exchanged heated words before dragging him off, his protests echoing faintly upward. Kael’s brows furrowed. Nevan, the city of silver towers and perfumed gardens, had turned into a pressure cooker of anxiety and suspicion. No longer was it the glittering heart of the north—it felt more like a beast thrashing in its own cage.
Kael exhaled a long, drawn breath, eyes narrowing.
"This is all because of that damn bitch," he muttered under his breath, his voice low, grating.
His thoughts ran like wolves across the wilderness of his mind. .
Adele’s foolish display had compromised everything. Now, they were dealing with the fallout... heightened security, increasing paranoia, and most dangerously, Martina’s sharp intuition.
As he watched two guards light another pyre to brighten the eastern square, a movement at the edge of his vision caught his attention.
He didn’t flinch.