Nobody spoke after the King's final words.
"If he loses you… this kingdom will not survive what comes after."
The sentence settled over the throne hall like a curse.
Heavy.
Final.
Unavoidable.
The nobles remained frozen where they stood beneath the crimson chandeliers, their expressions tense beneath carefully maintained composure.
Because everyone understood what the King had truly implied.
Sebastian was no longer merely dangerous.
He had become emotionally catastrophic.
And Aliena—
Aliena had unknowingly become the chain holding an abyss together.
At the center of the court—
Sebastian stood perfectly still beside her.
Too still.
Only Aliena noticed the slight tightening of his jaw.
The subtle shift in the shadows beneath his feet.
The almost imperceptible pulse through their bond.
Pain.
Not anger.
Pain.
Because despite everything—
despite all his terrifying power—
Sebastian hated being spoken about like a disaster waiting to happen.
