Alaric's grip slowly loosened around Rosalind's neck, as the room remained trapped in a heavy, stunned silence and she used that moment to draw in a sharp breath.
His gaze shifted slowly to Rowan, and he met the lowly footman's hard, unflinching glare. Even the guards holding him looked unsettled now, their grip loosening slightly as confusion spread through them.
Rosalind herself watched in confusion, unable to understand what was happening in front of her.
The silence was finally broken by Alaric's sudden laugh. "Your father's what?" he repeated, amusement lacing his voice, although his expression betrayed something else that both he and Rowan clearly understood.
"You must have completely lost your mind," Alaric said coldly, before turning to the guards.
"Get him out of my sight. I will execute him myself," he barked sharply.
The guards hesitated for a moment before grabbing Rowan again by the shoulders and dragging him away,
