Chapter 40 – The Bride's Revolver

• The mansion’s hallways were silent, but silence inside the Drayke stronghold never meant safety. It meant someone was listening. Always.
• Aveline’s boots barely touched the marble floor as she crossed the west wing. Her coat brushed her thighs, hiding the thin blade she’d tucked away. She moved like a shadow, every sense sharpened by the thought of Gabriel’s fire spreading in the south. It wasn’t just a fire. It was a declaration. A taunt.
• She reached the old bridal chamber. The door creaked when she pushed it open, dust rising like ghosts. Once, this room had been decorated for Cassian’s mother—a wedding night frozen in time. No one used it now, except Aveline. She had discovered the hollow panel weeks ago.