SHADOWCLAW — WAR ROOM - FOUR HOURS AFTER ATTACK
Every kingdom has a war room. Most of them have a king in it.
Serena sat in Fin's seat at the head of the war table, running on adrenaline and grief and her desire to protect Shadowclaw in their king's absence.
Nobody in this room knew that the Alpha King of Shadowclaw had told the woman sitting in his chair to get the fuck out of his castle. Nobody in this room knew that she had spent the last half hour holding his unconscious hand in a dark chamber, whispering every detail of the night to a man whose eyes were closed.
None of that showed on her face because war room debriefs always boil down to perception. Power is a costume. If they believe the bulge, they won't check what's actually hanging.
