ROWAN
They probably didn’t get what I said.
It was silent for what felt like an eternity. My mother was the first to speak, her voice tentative, quivering even.
“Oh, you’re joking, right, Rowan?” she said, her hands wringing together nervously.
That was all it took for the tension to shatter. Elder Harren chuckled under his breath, and then others followed. The sound spread quickly like wildfire, Wilder smirking like the fool he was, even Francis huffing as though the awkwardness had lifted. To them, it must have been some cruel attempt at humor.
But I kept a straight face. Their laughter faltered when I didn’t join them.
Zaria cleared her throat delicately. “We can arrange the wedding,” she said, her tone polite but insistent. “I know you’re still thinking about Ellana, but—”
I st
