Chapter 19 Charisma Pov

• The council were being as infuriating as ever. As we conducted the important meeting inside the throne room, I could see them glancing surreptitiously at my mate who stood beside me, a look of uncertainty on his face. My father was in the background. Now that I was home the duties of the kingdom primarily fell to me and he would not intervene in the council’s affairs, only observe the happenings. I didn’t know whether to be grateful for that or incensed that he didn’t care enough to step in for his only child. I sighed as the council began to sit down in their seats, all of their gazes beginning to pin on me. I straightened, prepared for a fight.
• “Your highness, let me be the first to congratulate you on coming home safely. We have all been informed of the regrettable incident that happened on your travels home and we are most grateful to be assured of your safety.”
• Thomas was the first to speak. I narrowed my eyes at him. I didn’t like Thomas. He was too interfering, too vested in my affairs. A mature aged man, he had long been a loyal subject to my father and the beady eyes and long nose of his only put me off him further. He was not handsome by any means and his personality left a lot to be desired. I frowned at him, knowing that I had to remain respectful even as my mate wrung his hands together, no doubt remembering the damage that had been done to his arm.