Chapter 226 Unlikely Allies

• Nyxara
• After my conversation with Lyell, a strange sense of clarity settled over me. The court was a battlefield, and I had been naïve to think I could navigate it without taking action. Varek’s coldness had left me exposed, vulnerable to Lira’s manipulations and the shifting dynamics of those around us. But I wasn’t going to stand by any longer. If Varek wasn’t going to protect me, I would protect myself.
• I replayed Lyell’s warnings over in my head. Lira’s influence had grown, and she was working against me, but what stung most was that Varek wouldn’t even acknowledge it. He was blind to her machinations, or perhaps he didn’t care. Either way, I couldn’t rely on him. I had to start thinking strategically—something I should have done long ago.