Zara’s POV
If humiliation could kill, I would have died where I stood.
Thousands of warriors.
Three armies.
Ancient fire-beast.
My estranged mother.
And every single one of them staring at me like I was about to choose a husband at a festival.
I pointed at the Warden.
“No.”
Its silver eyes blinked once.
Clarify refusal.
“I refuse this conversation.”
The beast’s tail thudded against the earth hard enough to shake loose stones from the broken wall.
Discussion required.
Greyson stepped to my side, blood running down one temple, sword still in hand.
“You heard her.”
The Warden looked at him.
Candidate displays spirit.
Kael pinched the bridge of his nose.
Selene, who had spent years hiding royal truths from me, chose that exact moment to appear deeply fascinated by the clouds
