Chapter 24

• The study radiated an aura of hushed opulence - mahogany panels, plush leather furnishings, and the muted glow of a crackling fireplace casting shadows across the richly appointed space. It was a room befitting a man of immense power and refined tastes.
• Yet the two figures occupying it harbored an unmistakable aura of menace beneath their tailored veneers.
• The first, seated behind an imposing desk, cut an intimidating figure despite his relaxed posture. Raven hair swept back from a chiseled countenance that could have been carved from marble, accentuating the molten silver of his eyes. Though handsome, his sharp features held a predatory edge, like a panther assessing its next meal.