Enemies often strike with whispers, not swords.
The rumors started within twenty-four hours of Gideon's observation. Quiet. Subtle. Spreading through council channels and faculty conversations like an infection through a vulnerable population.
Elara Bennett was compromised. Emotionally unstable. Her bond with Darius made her vulnerable to manipulation. Recent battles proved she took unnecessary risks protecting her mate. Continental coordination had intelligence suggesting personal weaknesses that made her a liability rather than a leader.
Nothing overt. Nothing that could be directly challenged or refuted. Just whispers. Doubts. Questions about whether someone so emotionally connected could make rational decisions under pressure.
I heard them secondhand—through Finn, through concerned students, through faculty who thought I should know what was being discussed in private councils.
