Adrian’s POV
The second meeting happened three nights later. I walked through the dim hallway calmly, my expression unreadable as one of the guards opened the chamber doors for me. This time, fewer elders were present. Only the important ones. That alone told me enough. They were taking this seriously now.
The doors shut heavily behind me the moment I stepped inside. One of the elders leaned back slightly in his seat, his sharp eyes fixed directly on me.
“We discussed your proposal.”
I stayed standing.
“And?”
A brief pause followed before another elder finally spoke.
“We still do not trust you completely.”
Fair.
“I didn’t expect you to,” I replied calmly.
That earned a small look between them. Then finally...
“But,” the elder continued slowly, “we believe your resentment may be
