AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL
The palace had already adjusted to the rhythm of chaos, but Richard's presence introduced a new variable that made the walls feel tighter, the ceilings lower, and the air far too heavy. I sat on the balcony, fingers rubbing my stomach as the baby fluttered insistently, clearly aware of the tension below. Zavier leaned against me, jaw tight, eyes scanning the halls as though he could detect the first tremor of catastrophe before it struck. Below, Charlie was bouncing between Terrence and Adrian like a man possessed, waving his notebook frantically.
"Brother Michael! This is an emergency of divine proportions! We need… a defensive strategy!"Charlie said.
Terrence groaned, rubbing his temples.
"Divine proportions? Last week you thought five koi were a sign of doom."Terrence said.
Adrian, arms crossed, shot Charlie a glare that could curdle milk.
