The council chamber felt intimidating. The room, with its large arches and cold stone walls, seemed to cause every whisper to be amplified. The long mahogany table at the centre was dominated by high-ranking officials, each one threatened by Jess and scrutinizing her like she was an intruder in their kingdom.
Jess’s hands began to tremble slightly, but she hid them in between her lap, willing herself to stay composed no matter what. She wore an emerald dress that Luca had insisted on because it brought out her eyes, but she felt like a little child playing dress up with her dad.
Athena sat with the rest of the high-ranking officials, her expression neutral but her gaze fixed on her prey like a predator. Luca sat at the head of the table, with Jess by his side as his Queen. His imposing p
