The silence between them was deafening, each council member holding their breath as they waited for Kryos's response. His expression was unreadable, his eyes betraying no hint of emotion.
"How can you be so sure that you're not my mate?" he asked, his voice even and measured. "And even if you're not, I'm not going to let you go. I care too much about you to let you walk away." His words struck a chord, Chloe's heart racing as she considered his unwavering dedication to her.
Chloe looked at him, her eyes filled with confusion. "But why?" she asked, her voice barely audible. "You can't just force me to love you. That's not how it works."
"You're right," Kryos said, his voice quiet and contemplative. "But I can't just walk away from you either. You've become so important to me, I can't ima
