Chapter 175

• I held my breath as we stepped into the grand chamber, my head held high despite the storm of nerves raging within me. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I forced myself to move with purpose, refusing to let a single tremor betray my unease. I didn’t dare meet their eyes. I could already picture their expressions—masks of contempt, disgust, or worse, complete indifference. But I refused to shrink beneath their scrutiny. Instead, I whispered silent affirmations to myself, reinforcing my worth, reminding myself that I was above their petty disdain.
• Hadrian, however, had no intention of letting my presence go unnoticed. He wanted to send a message, loud and clear. As we entered, my eyes fell on the two thrones positioned on the raised platform—one for him as King, and one for me, his Queen. Ignoring all formalities, he guided me forward, ensuring I was seated first before he claimed his place beside me. Our thrones were close—so close they nearly touched—an unspoken declaration that I was not beneath him but beside him, his equal in every sense.
• Even my mere presence was enough to stir unease, but when I settled into the throne with unshaken composure, the murmur of discontent swelled into outright commotion. I exhaled slowly, steadying myself, and then, finally, I let my gaze sweep across the hall. The hostility struck me like a cold wave, its source easy to pinpoint. My eyes locked onto the front row, left side. Lord Protector Ashcroft Eryx sat rigid, his expression carved in pure loathing. His seething glare was mirrored by the woman at his side—his wife, I presumed—and their two sons, both the image of her. Their collective hatred once had the power to unsettle me. Now? It barely scratched the surface. Once, I had feared the noble vampires, but now I saw them for what they truly were—fragile in their arrogance, powerless before me. A quiet chuckle escaped my lips as I turned my attention elsewhere.