The feast hall was an array of decadence, the golden chandeliers casting soft light on the long tables laid with rich foods and crystal goblets filled with wine. But it felt cold. The air, heavy with tension, pressed down on the gathering, stifling laughter and chatter. The nobles sat in silence, their glances flicking nervously toward the shattered doors where Ryder had just entered. The anticipation in the room was palpable, the very atmosphere charged with an energy that seemed to pulse with every heartbeat.
Sienna could feel it. She could feel Ryder’s presence, even though he was several paces away, kneeling before her, his massive frame trembling with barely contained power. Her heart raced, and her breath caught in her throat. This was not the man she had known. This was something d
