One of the other men leans forward. Older. Gray-haired. "My daughter is available. It would be an honor."
Luan's shoulders lock. His jaw tightens. Just for a second.
I can see the panic. Brief. Controlled. A flicker of something close to fear crossing his face before he locks it down.
Then his expression smooths, becoming something calm.
"I would be honored to marry your daughter," Luan says. His voice is steady. No hesitation. "Was it not for the fact that I am already engaged."
What?
Driton's eyes narrow. Suspicion immediate and sharp. "Engaged?"
"Yes."
Silence. Driton studies Luan through the screen. Searching for the lie. For the crack in the facade.
But Luan doesn't flinch. Doesn't waver.
"I see," Driton says finally. "Then I suppose congratulations are in order."
"Thank you."
"The Council will support you," Driton says. Each word deliberate. Heavy with implication. "On probation. We'll be watching closely."
It's a threat. Veiled but unmistakable.
"Understood," Luan says.
"I look forward to the engagement party," Driton adds. Then the screen goes black.
We all exhale.
The tension in the room releases like a snapped wire.
"It worked," I say.
"Why did you say you're engaged?" Artan asks immediately. His voice is tense. His hand lifts from Luan's shoulder like it's been burned.
"Because the alternative was dragging another person into this," Luan says. Calm. Reasonable. Like he didn't just lie to the most powerful men in our world. "Someone we don't know. Someone we can't trust. We can't afford that."
"What are we going to do?" Artan asks. But there's something in his voice. Something that says he already knows the answer.
I look at Luan's face. See the satisfaction there. The certainty. The plan that's already formed.
And I understand.
"Lily," I say. The word comes out flat. "You're talking about Lily."
Jealousy hits me. Hard. Immediate. A physical sensation that spreads through my chest like fire.
She's going to be his. At least in appearance. At least for however long this charade lasts.
And there's nothing I can do about it.
Artan bristles. "No. Absolutely not. She's already too deep. She knows too much. If this gets dangerous, if they figure out she's not really—"
"It won't get dangerous," Luan interrupts. "We control the narrative. She already knows about my condition. We'll tell her some more truth. Not all of it. Not about who we actually are. But enough. And I can't exactly go out in public yet, so it won't require much."
