The tension in the throne room was palpable, a silent storm waiting to break. Isabel stood at the center, her hands clenched at her sides, her eyes locked on Lord Regent Vorstag as he paced back and forth before her. The heavy weight of his words still hung in the air, but something within her refused to yield. She would not let him dictate her fate.
Kainen stood beside her, his stance unwavering, as ever the loyal shield. His sharp eyes never left Vorstag, his fingers resting on the hilt of his sword, though he had not yet drawn it. Isabel could feel his energy, his presence, grounding her in the face of the man who had caused so much harm to her bloodline.
"So," Vorstag said, his voice cutting through the silence, "you want me to believe that she is the heir to the throne. The She-Wolf
