Versailles – November 11, 1937 – 5:04 AM
— "Paris is already on fire," Claire murmured as she descended the palace steps with Solène and Armand.
— "Not literally," Solène replied.
— "Not yet," Claire added.
But she felt it — the Veil was weakening. The mystical connection, once so vivid, now felt like a memory. As if the world itself were pushing them back toward reality.
At the garden gate, a car waited. Inside: Émile Verhaeren.
— "You took your time."
Claire stared at him.
— "You still have the mission, don't you?"
— "Protect Reiner. At all costs."
— "Then let's stop wasting time with shadows."
---
Paris – 5:41 AM
The city was under partial lockdown. Military checkpoints at the entrances, tightened surveillance at the stations, diplomats isolated in hotels overlooking the Seine.
But Reiner was still at risk.
The second assassination attempt had been scheduled at Café Les Ombres, a discreet rooftop venue near the Eiffel Tower, disguised as a diplomatic toast to renewal. It was there that Reiner would shake hands with a British envoy — and, according to Émile's latest intel, where the assassin would strike.
—
In the car, in motion
— "Are you sure about this?" Claire asked.
— "The source is reliable. And this time, there's no magic. Just gunpowder."
— "And Lorelei?"
Émile glanced into the rearview mirror.
— "She vanished. Like all dangerous things do when they're not ready to die."
Solène stayed silent.
— "Then this is it," Claire said.
— "Time to do what we came here for in the first place."
---
Paris – 6:00 AM – Les Ombres
Time was short.
The weapons were silent.
And someone already had their finger on the trigger.