The Grand Banquet continued long after King Aldric’s wolf had knelt before Kaelira.
Music filled the hall once more.
Laughter slowly returned.
But beneath the elegant conversations, unease lingered.
No one could forget what they had witnessed.
Some rulers now looked at Kaelira with reverence.
Others looked at her with fear.
She smiled politely as another noble offered congratulations, but her instincts refused to relax.
Something felt wrong.
Across the hall, Ronan caught her eye.
He gave the smallest shake of his head.
Stay alert.
A servant approached carrying a silver tray.
“Your Majesty,” he said, bowing deeply. “A toast from the allied kingdoms.”
He lifted a crystal goblet filled with deep crimson wine.
Kaelira reached for it.
Then stopped.
The servant’s hand was trembl
