WILLOWI feel the council's eyes on me before I even step into the chamber. Cold, judgmental, sharp like blades. Every step I take resounds against the stone floor, and I can practically hear their thoughts, their disdain, their disapproval, their disbelief that I would even consider aligning with Thalrion."Willow," the lead elder hisses, voice brittle with contempt. "You will have no dealings with Thalrion. His path is dangerous, corrupt, and... forbidden. You are to sever all contact, immediately."Immediately. The word tastes bitter on my tongue. Forbidden. As if anyone has the right to dictate who I ally with, who I trust, who I become.I straighten my back, my emerald eyes flashing with fury. "Sever all contact?" I repeat, voice loud enough to make the council flinch. "Do you hear yourselves? You speak of forbidden, yet you've done nothing to protect our people from Evelessa and her... her sea witch bloodline! You sit in this chamber and lecture me on morality while letting chao
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