Holden was flipping pancakes when the aggressive knock came.
BANG BANG BANG
"Got it," Holden called over his shoulder.
Maeve was sitting at the table with her tablet, scrolling through the latest news feeds. Renna was face-down on the couch, still half-asleep. Emric was reading something on his wrist display. Lyra sat by the window, watching the city with the calm expression she'd been wearing more often since the Sterling family fell.
Holden opened the door.
Four Royal Guards stood outside in full dress armor. The guard in front held a sealed envelope stamped with a gold wax seal.
"Holden Voss. Team Soup. His majesty requests your immediate presence at the Royal Palace."
"Right now?" Maeve asked from the table. "He just woke up."
The guard glanced at Holden.
"The Emperor's schedule does not accommodate breakfast."
"Apparently mine doesn't either."
The guard didn't react.
