Chapter 36

Ravenna's heels clicked against the pavement as she hurried to meet Soren at their usual spot, a discreet café tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. Her mind raced with the events of the past few days – the confrontation with Lilith, her calculated confession to Rylan. Everything was falling into place, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she was walking a razor's edge.

As she entered the café, she spotted Soren immediately, his tall frame unmistakable even in the dimly lit space. He looked up as she approached, his face an unreadable mask.

"Ravenna," he greeted her, gesturing to the seat across from him. "Right on time, as always."

She slid into the chair, eyeing him warily. "Well, when you say you have important information, I tend to take it seriously."

Soren nodded, pushing a steaming cup of coffee towards her – black, no sugar, just how she liked it. The gesture, small as it was, reminded Ravenna of how well he'd come to know her over these past months.

"So," she said, t