MADDOX POV
The grand hall reeked of fear. The scent rolled off my lieutenants in waves, tangling with the crisp morning air that streamed in through the high arched windows. Their gazes were downcast, their breaths shallow, their hands twitching as though bracing for impact.
Good.
I strode toward the head of the long obsidian table, my boots echoing against the polished marble floor. The sharp click of my steps seemed to cut through the silence, each sound a reminder of my presence. They knew better than to meet my eyes, but that didn’t stop me from glaring at each one of them as I passed.
Cowards. Every last one of them.
When I reached the head of the table, I stopped, slamming a photograph down on its cold surface. The sharp sound reverberated through the room, making several of the
