ien

est, though my mind was far from idle. The heavy silence of the cha

, his cloak snapping with each stride. "She tried t

owan's anger was predictable, almost boring. But his words.

s. To an outsider, our faces would have been un

less, one leg crossed over the other, his head

his jaw tight, not because he was angry but because he was disse

d seen, the girl in the gallery who had looked at me wit

d against the carved arm of his throne. "Our m

ust slightly. "You're not the only one who felt betrayed. Do you think I didn't feel it? I was rea

d yet you sit there smug, as

t it also shows me who she is. Foolish. She could have chosen fa

e fraying. "That's your prid

nd what would you know of it, Lucian? You

e. She has demonstrated disinterest. That means we act quickly. Either convince

g like smoke

as he was, looked

sting of her attempt. As if it was so easy to cut

d, my voice cal

t me, his eyes

you are. You keep painting her as reckless, as unworthy. B

led. "Do enligh

strangers who turned out to be her mates. Tell me, which of you would have e

that followe

was angry, yes. Scared. Confused. She even told me how terrified she was stepping in

uncertainty in his eyes. "And because she confes

l. None of us earned her trust-not yet. But she

e a fool, Lucian. Always have been.

Rowan. I see more clearly than you. She doesn't need jewels or gowns to feel l

ride bristling. "I gave her clothes.

n't built from gold, Kai. It's built from kindness.

n faltered, his mouth op

ogic in what Lucian says. If she were surrounded by familiarity, by things that

but that's not what she needs. She doesn't need to be reminded of her village or he

through the chamb

a show of wealth. Not to flaunt power. Just... to welcome her. T

er, skepticism etched into h

you want us to

onsidering. "If the aim is co

mate. That alone makes her worth it. Or do

ring when the heavy doors of

sharp as she stormed in, her heels

throat. "What is the me

ting her like she is important? Mira? She is nothing! I've been here for years. I've s

, letting her

know me. You know my heart. You know I've always admired your gentleness. No one understands

ing. "Because she is our mate. And for that reason

lips curling. "You'll r

tormed out, her anger trai

. None of us spo

neatly behind me. "Tomorrow," I reminded them

lready pulling me back toward the one thing I