The woman in the doorway didn't look like a killer. She looked like a shadow given human form, her dark leather suit absorbing the flickering neon of the shop. This was Viper, the lead scout for the Ravens—the Iron Reach's most elite assassination squad.
"You've caused a lot of paperwork today, Caelum," Viper said, her voice a cool, rhythmic purr. She leaned against the doorframe, her hand resting casually on the hilt of a black-glass dagger. "Two armored SUVs, six hospitalized mages, and a direct insult to the High Lord. My superiors are... curious."
Caelum stood between her and the bed where Elena slept. Even in his weakened state, his presence was like a heavy weight in the room. "Curiosity is a dangerous trait for a Raven, Viper. It usually leads to an early retirement."
Viper laughed, a sharp, metallic sound. "Don't pull that 'Hidden God' act with me. Silas told me you gave the girl your blood. I can see the mana-burn on your neck from here. You're running on fumes."
She stepped into the room, her eyes darting to the sleeping Elena. "She looks better. Radiant, even. Whatever is in your veins, the High Lord would pay a kingdom to bottle it."
"He'll never get the chance," Caelum said.
"Maybe not today," Viper conceded. She reached into her vest and tossed a small, vibrating device onto the floor between them. It was a Silence Field Generator. As it hummed to life, the sound of the outside city vanished. "I'm not here to kill you, Caelum. Not yet. I'm here to offer you a deal."
Caelum narrowed his eyes. "A Raven making deals? That's new."
"The High Lord is losing his grip," Viper whispered, her playful tone vanishing. "The Iron Reach is fracturing. Half the council wants the girl dead to hide the scandal, but the other half—the ones who know what she's actually carrying—they want to use her as a weapon. If I bring her back now, she becomes a lab rat."
"And what do you want?"
"I want the Eternal Dynasty coin," Viper said, pointing to the gold sun-marked coin still sitting on Silas's workbench. "And I want you to win the District Underground Tournament next week."
Caelum went still. The Tournament was a bloodsport where the city's various factions settled their disputes through their 'Champions.' It was where the real power in Oakhaven was traded.
"Why would you want a driver in the Tournament?" Caelum asked.
"Because the favorite to win is Silas—the other Silas. The High Lord's nephew," Viper said with a sneer. "If he wins, he takes control of the District's mana-supply. If a 'Commoner' from the Valerius household humbles him, it breaks the High Lord's image of invincibility. It gives people like me room to breathe."
Caelum looked back at Elena. He knew he couldn't hide her in a garage forever. To truly protect her and the child, he needed more than just secrets; he needed influence. He needed to be someone the High Lord was afraid to touch in public.
"If I win," Caelum said, "the Ravens leave us alone for thirty days. No trackers. No 'incidents.'"
"Agreed," Viper said, retracting her blade. "But Caelum? If you lose... I'll be the one tasked with bringing your head to the High Lord. And I never miss a deadline."
She vanished into the night as quickly as she had appeared, the silence field deactivating with a soft pop.
Silas stepped out from the back room, wiping sweat from his brow. "You're crazy. You just gave her your blood, and now you're going to fight the High Lord's nephew? He's a Tier-5 Battle Mage!"
"Then I guess I have seven days to remember how to be a King," Caelum said.
He walked over to Elena and gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead. She stirred in her sleep, her hand instinctively reaching out and catching his. Even in her dreams, the soul-bond was pulling them together.
Caelum looked at the gold coin on the table. The sun on the metal seemed to glow with a faint, inner light. The peace of the last five years was over. The Driver was gone.
The Sovereign had returned.
Author's Note:
The stakes just hit the ceiling! Caelum has one week to recover his strength and prepare to face a Tier-5 Mage. Can he do it without revealing his true identity to the entire city?