Lilah's POV
The day of Bennett's second and final mating ceremony arrived with the kind of grandeur that only the royal family could muster. The great hall was alive with the sound of music and murmured conversations, the air thick with the mingling scents of perfume and power.
I stood at the edge of the gathering, my heart pounding as I took in the sight of the assembled nobles. I had dressed carefully for the occasion, my gown a deep emerald that accentuated the silhouette of my pregnancy while maintaining an air of elegance. It had taken every ounce of my courage to attend, and Bennett had insisted that I be by his side.
"You are my mate," he had said firmly that morning, his tone leaving no room for argument. "No one will question your place while I'm standing next to you."
