Lorien
I could feel every eye in the room burning into my skin.
The moment Cassius took my hand, the hall seemed to hush in anticipation. Conversations slowed, then died. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on, and I wished—genuinely wished—the ground would open up and swallow me whole. The curious gazes, the judging stares, the sheer weight of public scrutiny… it was suffocating.
And still, none of it compared to the way Isabella looked at me.
If eyes could kill, I would’ve been reduced to ash on the polished marble floor. She looked like she was about to rip someone’s throat out—probably mine. Her manicured fingers twitched at her side, and I could practically taste the fury rolling off her in waves. But I couldn’t focus on her for long. My attention snapped back to Cassius.
He looked unfairly good. His golden suit was sleek, molded to his form like it was crafted by some ancient god of arrogance and tailored perfection. Even the way he moved was effortless—smooth, prec
