I glanced down the hallway toward the council chamber. "Will your mom be there?"
"She will. Heavily guarded in the back. You won't even see her."
I tilted my head.
"I wanted to ask if you were okay with that."
"I am. Just keep Brooke away. Please." I kept my eyes on his.
He started to grin. "Trust me. That won't be an issue."
The way he said it gave me a strange chill. Something unspoken lingered in the bond, but I didn't push. Instead, I reached for his hand, and he squeezed back. That damn crown shifted again, and he adjusted it like it was trying to crawl off his head.
He stood at the edge of the bed, suit jacket draped across one arm, eyeing it with a look. He finally shrugged it on, rolling his shoulders back as the fabric settled over him. The black shimmered with an almost su
