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Mara studied me, suspicion easing. “Then take the next table. I’ll handle the doors.”

“Agreed.”

The old familiarity returned in pieces. Mara saw which route I wanted open before I pointed. Elias placed the blood near the fire without waiting for a discussion about temperature. Court members adjusted chairs, argued about drafts and passed the heavy work to whoever stood closest.

Nobody waited for a king to approve every movement.

I remained part of it anyway.

The difference landed harder than I expected.

Bryony came down while I was moving the last crate from the cellar. Her red hair was tied loosely around the black points of the Crown. A clean bandage covered her right palm, and her steady human heartbeat reached me before her voice did.

“I leave for an hour and you move every table.”

I set the crate on the table. “We moved six tables.”

Her gaze travelled over my rolled sleeves and the open collar of my shirt. Her green eyes warmed.

“You came to inspect the room?” I asked.

“I came to see you.”

“Good.”

Mara passed between us carrying a bucket. “Some of us are working.”

Bryony stepped out of her way.

I opened the crate before the exchange grew into an evening. The bottles had been divided by wax colour and date. Black wax filled the first row, red the second and plain corks the third.

Bryony leaned over the crate. “You arranged the blood by seal and date.”

“It affects stability.”

Bryony smiled, and the Crown gave nothing back.

She walked with me into the Night Hall. The extra space between the tables made the room feel less like a banquet and more like a collection of smaller conversations. Every door remained open. The dais stood empty.

“Will this stop it?” she asked.

“It will stop a spill or one hungry vampire from reaching half the room before anyone reacts.”

“I meant the Crown.”

“I know.” I faced her. “It won’t stop a royal command. If the Crown speaks through you, we’ll obey whatever it finishes.”

Her bandaged hand curled. “So this is useless.”

“It deals with the dangers we can control. It also leaves every exit open and every weapon out of reach if the Crown turns ordinary hunger into panic.”

“And if it orders everyone to fetch the weapons?”

“Then we fetch them. I won’t lie to make the plan sound stronger.”

She glanced around the room. “What do you expect me to do?”

“What you did last night. Interrupt it if you can. Revoke it if you can’t. Leave if you need to.”