The soft rumble of rotor blades echoed across the Matten estate, breaking the early afternoon silence.
Staff and security lined the perimeter of the estate's central courtyard, all eyes trained on the helicopter descending onto the reinforced helipad. The insignia of the Nightmare Court shimmered on its side, but there was no doubt in anyone's mind who it belonged to.
Princess Akiko.
The same woman who had helped him get acknowledged by the Nightmare Court and get integrated into the Monarchy.
Ezra stood at the edge of the helipad, arms folded loosely behind him, his black coat stirring in the wind kicked up by the descending craft. His eyes narrowed slightly, even as his expression remained neutral.
This was a surprise. He hadn't received notice that she was coming. That wasn't like her.
The door opened with a hiss, and Akiko stepped out like royalty descending onto foreign soil.
