I take the tablet, my healer training immediately recognizing the precision of the analysis. Every resonance spike, every harmonic pattern, every signature fluctuation matches perfectly between the two attacks.
“And here’s the crucial piece,” Derek continues, pulling up a timeline document. “I tracked Faelan’s movements between our contamination attack and Caelynn’s death. He had the means, the opportunity, and—“ He gestures to another file. ”—we can prove motive. Caelynn’s death created the marriage vacancy that forced this political situation.”
Callum moves beside me, his warmth a silent anchor as the full implications settle into my bones. We knew it was murder. We knew it was Faelan. But now we can prove it in a way the tribunal can’t dismiss.
“This is enough?” I ask, needing confirmation.
“For the murder, yes,” Derek says. “But we still need to connect Faelan to the marriage pressure itself—prove he’s the one manipulating your father and pushing the tribunal timeline. That’s the missing piece.”
I nod, unable to speak past the tightness in my throat.
Callum’s hand finds the small of my back, steadying me without words.
“Full team meeting in ten,” Derek says, already backing toward the door. “We need to move fast.”
“We’ll be right there,” Callum answers for us both.
As the door closes, I look up at Callum, grief and determination warring within me.
“Let’s end this,” I whisper.
He nods, already reaching for his shirt.
The strategy table displays the evidence Derek gathered—crystalline data points mapping Faelan’s signature across both attacks.
“Walk us through it,” Dane says, his Alpha presence focused on Derek.
Derek pulls up the comparative analysis. “Seventeen points of correspondence between the contamination attack and Caelynn’s murder. Same magical fingerprint. The tribunal-certified expert confirmed it’s impossible to duplicate.”
My throat tightens as I watch the evidence confirm every suspicion with clinical precision. The grief I’ve carried since the summons arrived hardens into something colder, more focused.
“Timed perfectly,” Callum says, his voice low and tight with controlled anger. “Weaken the pack, then murder your sister to create the vacancy.”
Dane nods, already shifting to tactical mode. “This proves the murder, but not enough to challenge the marriage contract.”
“Exactly,” Nyxiana confirms. “The Marriage Tribunal operates independently. We need concrete evidence connecting Faelan to the marriage pressure itself—proof he’s manipulating your father and corrupting the tribunal process.”
Nova reads my expression. “Without that connection, the tribunal will acknowledge the murder but still enforce the marriage obligation.”
“My father would never push this hard under normal circumstances,” I say. “Even with political pressure, this acceleration isn’t like him.”
Callum’s presence steadies me.
“We need multiple investigative tracks,” Dane decides, mapping strategy on a digital board. “First, tribunal corruption evidence—precedents where Faelan or associates have manipulated marriage proceedings before.”
Nova nods. “Second, evidence of magical influence on Lord Theron—signatures of manipulation in his communications.”
“Third,” Ben adds, “tracing the money and political pressure through Faelan’s known associates.”
Kari leans forward. “I can analyze communication patterns between Faelan’s network and tribunal officials. Even supernatural beings leave data trails.”
Rhonan rubs his thumb along his dagger hilt. “Now that we have proof—I should approach Evren. His position in the delegation gives him access to information we can’t get elsewhere.”
“That’s risky,” Serena counters, her heterochromatic eyes concerned. “If he’s caught helping us, the delegation could cut him off completely.”
The weight of the deadline presses against us, but I refuse to say it aloud again. We all know what’s at stake.
Dane makes the decision. “Rhonan, sound out Evren carefully. Don’t compromise his position, see if he’s willing to help.”
