18.

I could feel how much Chase was fuming just by standing next to him. His jaw was clenched, and his eyes flashed with barely contained rage as he stared at the elders. Most of them cowered from his anger, but they tried to stand their ground.

“How dare you speak such words about my queen in my presence?” Chase’s voice was a low growl, his words dripping with authority. “Zara is my queen and therefore yours by proxy. Chosen by me and worthy of respect and honor regardless of your narrow-minded prejudices.”

The elder remained unfazed as well as the others. “She bears the mark of a whore, Your Majesty. A stain upon you and the honor of our kingdom. We cannot accept her as our queen.”

I couldn’t say anything because for one I had nothing to say and the only thing I felt was pure and undiluted anger, and also because Chase had instructed that I remained silent and to let him handle things before we got here. He wanted me to trust him, and I plan to do so.

I had thought the meeting at the