I climbed onto the stage without thinking twice.
My heart pounded—not with fear, but with rage. My blood burned. My chest swelled with a certainty I had never felt so strongly before. I looked around: the rogues filled the clearing, some still laughing, others with their eyes fixed on Kael and me.
They didn’t know what was coming.
I took a deep breath and raised my voice.
“Listen.”
The murmurs died almost instantly. Dozens of eyes locked onto me.
“This night was supposed to be a celebration,” I continued. “But while we’re here, enjoying ourselves, my friend is being tortured in Lucian’s pack.”
Tension rippled through the crowd. Some exchanged glances, others frowned, but no one spoke.
I didn’t give them time.
“Morgana thinks she can manipulate me,” I said, my voice gaining strengt
