The Messenger( Iva) novel Chapter 348

The Desperation-1

The private chambers were suffocating.

Attia paced the length of the room like a caged animal, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, his jaw tight enough to crack teeth. His chest heaved with ragged breaths, his eyes blazing with a fury that made the air around him crackle with tension. Every few seconds, a low growl rumbled from deep within his throat-a sound of pure, primal rage that he could barely contain.

Lori sat on the edge of the chaise lounge, her hands clasped in her lap, her face pale and drawn. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks, but she made no move to wipe them away. She felt hollow, empty, as if the Council’s verdict had reached into her chest and ripped out something vital. The bond-the beautiful, sacred bond that had connected her to Attia-was still there, still pulsing with warmth.

“I can’t believe it,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I can’t believe they rejected the appeal. The evidence was undeniable. We had witnesses. Documents. Everything we needed to prove the truth.”

Attia stopped pacing and turned to face her, his eyes wild with barely contained fury.

“Truth doesn’t matter to them,” he spat, his voice harsh and bitter. “Power matters. Influence matters. Politics matters. The truth is just an inconvenience to be swept aside when it doesn’t serve their purposes.”

He slammed his fist against the wall, the impact sending a crack through the stone.

“This is a fucking nightmare,” he snarled. “After everything we’ve been through-after everything we sacrificed-they still won’t let us be free.”

Iva sat beside Lori, her hand resting gently on her best friend’s back. Her face was pale with shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. She had been so certain that the appeal would succeed. The evidence had been airtight, the testimony compelling, the case overwhelming. She had allowed herself to hope-to believe that justice would finally prevail.

But the Council had proven her wrong.

“What the hell happened in there?” Attia demanded, his voice rising to a near-shout. “The evidence was clear. The witnesses were credible. There was no reason-no reason at all-for them to rule against us.”

Caleb stepped forward, his expression grim, his hands raised in a placating gesture.

“I don’t know,” he said, his voice low and steady. “But I’m planning to find out.”

Attia’s eyes blazed.

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