Eve's POV
The outer halls were exactly what Raphael had described.
Large. Crowded without feeling crowded...the kind of space that absorbed people and still made each of them visible. Pale stone and gold light and the particular noise of many conversations happening at a register designed not to carry. Everyone moving with purpose. Everyone watching everything.
Seraphine's people had positioned themselves well. Eve clocked them as she entered....blue faction colors distributed throughout the hall, visible without clustering, present enough to communicate alliance without suggesting dependence.
She walked in with Damian on her left and Damon on her right and Raphael a half step behind, which was deliberate. He'd explained it that morning. I walk behind you here. You're not arriving under my guidance....you're arriving as yourself. I'm your family, not your handler.
She'd understood.
