Darius had gone mad.
That was the only explanation. He had forbidden me to speak of our mating bond, warned me never to tell anyone, and even declared I’d never be anything to him, and now he just… stood before the entire Academy and announced we had a relationship?
What in the goddess’s name was he thinking?
My pulse thundered in my ears so I could barely hear anything else, but I could feel everyone’s eyes on me. Gone was the admiration and hope, and now all I could see was suspicion and disgust. I couldn’t blame them… except none of this was true!
“Come up here, Estella,” Darius commanded, and I gulped in panic.
I couldn’t refuse him, not in front of so many people, but I really didn’t want to step into that spotlight. The look he gave me told me I had no choice, so I dragged my
