Marcus moved in, his movements efficient and silent as he forced Caleb to his knees and secured his wrists with heavy zip-ties.

Caleb did not fight back.

He looked up at me one last time, his eyes hollow.

“What will you do with the empire now, Adrian?” he asked.

“I am tearing it down,” I said.

Marcus led him out into the rain, their silhouettes disappearing toward the main house.

I stood alone in the carriage house for a long moment, the sedan’s engine still humming.

I walked over to the driver’s side, reached in, and turned the key in the ignition.

The headlights died, plunging the space into sudden, deep shadow, lit only by the grey light of the storm outside.

I walked back to the main house, the rain washing the tension from my face.

Inside the kitchen, Nora was sitting at the wooden table, a cup of tea untouched in front of her.

Lila was asleep in her lap, her small hand clutching Nora’s sleeve.

Nora looked up as I entered, her eyes searching my face.

“Is it over?” Nora asked.