The invitation arrived without a seal.
That alone made it dangerous.
A single card rested on the table in my temporary quarters, its surface blank until I touched it. Mana flowed—and words surfaced like ink drawn from blood.
Private Audience Request
House Veyrin
Location: Azure Parlor
Lena frowned the moment she saw the name.
"Veyrin doesn't request," she said. "They acquire."
Ren whistled softly. "Mid-tier noble house, massive influence. Information brokers. Contract specialists."
"So," I said, "the kind that doesn't waste assassins."
"Exactly," Lena replied. "They buy outcomes."
Which meant this wasn't a threat.
It was worse.
The Azure Parlor was neutral ground—academy-approved, warded against violence, layered with truth-binding runes that punished outright lies but allowed creative phrasing.
A man waited inside.
Young. Impeccably dressed. Calm in the way only people born into power ever were.
"Kai," he said warmly, standing. "I'm Lucien Veyrin."
He gestured to the seat opposite him.
"I appreciate you coming."
"I wanted to see what you'd offer," I replied, sitting.
His smile sharpened just a touch.
"Honesty. Good."
Tea poured itself between us.
Lucien folded his hands. "The academy is unstable. Noble factions are nervous. And you are… disruptive."
"People keep saying that," I said.
"Yes," he agreed. "Which is why we'd like to stabilize the situation."
He slid a small crystal across the table.
Inside it—visions.
Private instructors.
Exclusive resources.
Legal immunity from internal challenges.
Political backing strong enough to silence half the academy.
"All this," Lucien said smoothly,
"in exchange for association."
Not loyalty.
Not obedience.
Association.
"You want my name," I said.
"And what it implies," he replied. "House Veyrin would sponsor you. Protect you. Shape your rise."
I leaned back slightly. "And when the Watchers come?"
His eyes flickered.
Ah. There it was.
"We believe," he said carefully,
"that standing close to you when that happens will be… advantageous."
Lena's jaw tightened.
"So you want to be nearby when he explodes," she said coldly.
Lucien smiled politely. "Or when he ascends."
I studied him.
"Tell me," I said, "what happens if I refuse?"
His smile didn't fade.
"Then another house will ask," he said. "And another. And eventually—one will stop asking."
The threat was wrapped in inevitability.
I nodded slowly.
"I have conditions," I said.
Lucien's eyes brightened. "Naturally."
"No control over my actions," I continued.
"No interference with my allies."
"And if House Veyrin uses my name to justify violence…"
I leaned forward.
"I walk away," I finished. "Publicly."
Silence hung between us.
Then Lucien laughed—genuine this time.
"Dangerous," he said. "But refreshingly clear."
He extended his hand.
"Deal," he said. "A provisional alliance."
I didn't take his hand.
"I haven't agreed yet," I said.
His eyebrow rose.
"I'm listening."
I met his gaze.
"If you ever decide I'm expendable," I said calmly,
"remember this conversation."
Lucien held my stare for a long moment.
Then he inclined his head.
"…Noted."
The card dissolved.
The crystal dimmed.
The deal was unmade—but the line had been drawn.
As we left the parlor, Lena exhaled sharply.
"You didn't take it," she said.
"No," I replied.
"But you didn't reject it either," Ren added.
I smiled faintly.
"Power hates uncertainty," I said. "Let them wonder."
The blade whispered.
"They will not stop."
"I know," I murmured.
Because now the nobles weren't trying to kill me.
They were trying to buy me.
And that meant the game had officially changed.