The realization did not come gently. It struck all at once, sharp and complete, leaving no space for doubt. Dorian had not failed in that courtroom. He had simply changed direction, and now everything about the attack—the timing, the precision, the target—felt less like chaos and more like control.
Vivian stood still for a brief moment, her chest rising slowly as the weight of it settled inside her. This was never just about escape. It was about power. Somewhere out there, Dorian was no longer running—he was holding something, or someone, that could shift everything again.
Sebastian did not waste a second.
"Lock down the entire sector," he ordered, his voice calm but carrying a force that cut cleanly through the confusion around them. "Every exit. Every route. No delays."
