"No," she said. "And people like Vale? They don't step down. They wait to be removed."
The two of us sat in silence for a beat.
"You think I can do this?" I asked finally.
"I think," Marissa said, "if you weren't already halfway there, he wouldn't be fighting this hard to stop you."
She rose, gathering her coat. "But be careful. Graham played a long game. Vale's playing something even older. And people who stand in the way of power either learn to take control or get destroyed."
I stood with her. "Thank you. For coming."
Her smile softened. "Your mother once told me the moon only rises when it's time. Don't fight the night, Jasmine. Just light it up."
And then she was gone.
Aiden stepped back into the room, leaning on the doorframe. "How'd it go?"
"Interesting," I murmured, mind still spinning. "She knew my parents. She thought Vale was a temporary placeholder, too. She never agreed with his leadership."
