Lucian “What in the goddess name is she doing here?” My voice echoed through the large space as I pointed at Nadia. I watched as the elders shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, looking to each other for who was going to answer my question. But there, Nadia sat beside her father comfortably like she belonged in this meeting room. I felt disgusted and disrespected in the pit of my stomach. My elders have also lost their respect for me, none of them had bothered to even be informed about this nonsense before I came in here to see for myself. Could it be that they were all now scared of Maddox, or they are now switching sides? “Is this some kind joke? Why—” Maddox interrupted my words by standing to his feet, forcing his chair to make a loud scraping noise. “Lucian, why not just have

