The alarm bell rang clearly once.
Then again—twice. Three times.
The sound rang out in the large hall, bouncing off the stone walls and glass windows, and cutting through the chatter.
People froze.
And then, panic rippled through the crowd like a crack through ice.
King Lucien stood in a commanding voice. "All guards to your posts! Secure the gates! Move the guests to the inner court—now!"
The Highlanders were already rising, hands going to the hilts of their weapons. Caelen barked something in his native tongue, and his men formed up like a single living wall, surrounding the noble delegation from the mountain clans.
Evelina turned, heart hammering. "Jasper!" she called, already searching the room.
He came out from behind a column with his cloak thrown off and his swords drawn. "Inner garden tunnel's clear. We can move them there."
