Scarlett's POV
Lucien spun on me the moment the others were out of earshot. His eyes blazed. "Why did you come? Didn't I tell you to stay behind and wait for me first?"
"Do you really think that I would just stay behind, quietly?" The words ripped out of me, unyielding. "Every rumor, every whisper, every letter he sends—it's all about me, Lucien. Don't expect me to just hide from every one of his petty attempts while you fight him under my name!"
His hand raked through his hair, a gesture I knew meant he was close to snapping.
"I expected you not to give him what he wanted. He wanted you here, Scarlett. And now every soldier within earshot is going to drag tonight's scene back to the council and twist it before my men can stop it."
"I didn't ask for their protection," I shot back. "If
