Chapter 39

• I was gasping for air, my chest heaving as dizziness clouded my senses. It took a moment to regain my composure and grasp the reality of my situation. Hadrian’s gaze locked onto mine, unrelenting, as his long fingertips traced slow, deliberate patterns across my hands.
• "You did well," he murmured, a smirk curling his lips.
• He stood then, his fingers releasing mine with a deliberate finality. His satisfaction was unmistakable, but I was left floundering, trying to piece together what had just occurred. My eyes darted across the courtroom. Half of the council members sat frozen, mouths agape in shock. The other half erupted in an uproar, shouting accusations and venomous remarks toward the Vexleys.