Night had fallen over Bloodmoor, and with it, a heavy silence descended upon the castle. The halls were eerily quiet, the usual sounds of whispered conversations and the distant clank of armor replaced by the low hum of anticipation. Every noble, every guard, every servant could feel it—something was about to happen.

Alexi stood in the shadows of the grand hall, his eyes scanning the room as he waited for the plan to unfold. The relics from the Crimson Vault had been carefully placed on display at the center of the chamber, their ancient power radiating through the air like a beacon. But tonight, they were not there as a show of strength—they were bait.

Marcellus stood at Alexi’s side, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. The two of them had coordinated every detail of the trap, from the placement of the relics to the guards stationed discreetly throughout the castle. Now, all that was left was to wait for Kallan and his co-conspirators to make their move.

"It won’t be long now," Marcellus said quietly, his eyes flicking toward the entrance of the hall. "Kallan knows this is the perfect opportunity. He’ll take the bait."

Alexi nodded, though his expression remained impassive. "He’ll come. And when he does, we’ll have him right where we want him."

The minutes stretched on in tense silence, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows across the room. The relics glimmered in the center of the hall, untouched, yet humming with power. To anyone watching, it would seem as though Alexi had left them unguarded, a rare and reckless mistake.

And then, just as the tension reached its breaking point, the door to the grand hall creaked open.

Lord Kallan entered, flanked by two other nobles Alexi had already suspected of being in league with Zephyrion. Their eyes darted nervously around the room, as if expecting a trap, but when they saw the relics lying in the open, their greed quickly overpowered their caution.

Kallan approached the relics with a look of barely concealed hunger. He had always been an ambitious man, but now, with the promise of Zephyrion’s favor, his ambitions had grown unchecked. The relics before him represented power—power that could tip the balance in favor of the fae Prince, and by extension, Kallan himself.

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As he reached out to touch one of the relics, Alexi stepped forward from the shadows, his presence sending a ripple of shock through the room.

"Kallan," Alexi said, his voice calm but filled with authority. "I see you’ve found something that interests you."

Kallan froze, his hand hovering just inches above the relic. For a brief moment, the room was silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade.

"My Lord," Kallan said slowly, turning to face Alexi. His expression was carefully neutral, but the fear in his eyes was unmistakable. "I was merely admiring the relics. Their beauty is unmatched."

"Is that so?" Alexi replied, his eyes narrowing. "Or were you hoping to take something more than admiration from them?"

Kallan’s face paled, and he took a small step back, his mind racing for an excuse. But before he could speak, Alexi continued.

"I know of your dealings with the fae Prince, Kallan," Alexi said, his voice cold and unyielding. "You and your allies have conspired to betray this kingdom, to hand over the Crimson Vault to Zephyrion in exchange for power. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?"

The other nobles behind Kallan shifted uneasily, their eyes darting between Alexi and Kallan as they realized the trap they had walked into.

Kallan’s expression twisted into one of desperation, his eyes flashing with a mix of anger and fear. "You… you have no proof of this. You can’t—"

"I don’t need proof," Alexi interrupted, stepping closer. "I have your confession."

Before Kallan could respond, Marcellus moved swiftly, his sword drawn and pointed at Kallan’s throat. The other nobles backed away, their hands raised in surrender as they realized the futility of their situation.

"You’ve betrayed this kingdom," Alexi said, his voice filled with quiet menace. "And now, you will answer for it."

Kallan’s face twisted in rage, his eyes burning with hatred as he realized that he had been caught. "Zephyrion will come for you, Alexi," he spat, his voice shaking with fury. "You may think you’ve won, but you’re nothing more than a puppet in a game far greater than you understand."

Alexi’s expression didn’t waver. "Perhaps. But for now, you’re the one who’s lost."

With a final nod to Marcellus, Alexi turned away as Kallan and his co-conspirators were escorted from the hall. The trap had worked, and now, with Kallan’s betrayal exposed, Alexi had solidified his control over the court.

But as the door closed behind him, Alexi couldn’t shake the feeling that the real battle had only just begun. Zephyrion was still out there, his influence growing with every passing day, and now, with Kallan removed from the equation, the fae Prince would be forced to act directly.

And when he did, Alexi would be ready.