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“Careful, or I’ll let him kick you both out,” I reply.

A waitress appears, setting down three glasses of whiskey. Likely Alex’s doing. We murmur our thanks, and she hurries off, cheeks flushed.

Xander takes a sip, then leans back in his seat. “There’s something you both need to know,” he says.

I straighten, my fingers tightening slightly around my glass. “What is it?”

“Whispers from across the river,” he replies. “Moreau smells blood in the water. Word is, he’s gearing up for something big. Expanding territory. Maybe crossing into ours.”

The air around us stills.

“The Scarlet Ravens don’t have the manpower for a war,” Hayden says, his tone measured but tense.

“They don’t need it,” Xander counters. “The treaty’s worthless after Trist and Mum. And he sees us as vulnerable.”

I take a slow sip of whiskey, letting the burn settle in my chest, allowing Xander’s words to process. “How reliable are these whispers?”

“Reliable enough,” he says with a shrug. “And if Moreau’s planning something, he won’t be doing it alone. He’ll have allies.”

Hayden’s jaw tightens. “Allies here?”

“It’s possible,” Xander replies.

I set my glass down with a quiet clink. The truth is, I’ve been expecting this. My mother’s death left cracks in The Snake’sfoundation, and while I’ve spent every moment since The Choosing filling them, some doubts remain. My father’s loyalists are gone, but I’m sure I haven’t reached all of them.

“If he has allies in our territory,” Hayden begins, his voice low, “We need to root them out.”

“And we will,” I say. “We’ve done it before. We’ll do it again.”

The table falls silent for a moment, the weight of what’s to come pressing down on us. Then Xander leans back, smiling dangerously. “Guess I better get to work.”

“Try not to turn Senna into a bloodbath,” Hayden mutters, looking at Xander the same way our mother would once upon a time.

Xander only grins. “No promises.”

Across the room, Alex glances my way. When our eyes meet, he smiles—a simple gesture, but it manages to settle the uneasiness building inside me.

The Serene Tiger buzzes around us, alive with life and possibility. The road ahead will be difficult, but nothing about it is daunting. I have my brothers. I have Alex.

And I will make sure The Snake stays on top.

Right where we belong.

End of Part One.