#Chapter 88 – Persona non Grata

Damon The moment Ronan stepped into my study, I knew something had broken. He didn’t bother with ceremony. Just set the folded parchment on my desk and met my eyes with the kind of tension that came before war. “You need to read this.” I opened it in silence. Each line slashed across the page like a blade: Elena had entered the restricted gallery. She’d taken a sketch of Natalie’s portrait. She’d been seen showing it to a servant. Witnesses placed her speaking with two minor nobles, both easily swayed and notoriously fond of gossip. And Henry had requested a private, unsanctioned meeting with one of the council members. The final note chilled me: She’s not just trying to stir doubt. She’s building a case. Zane surged beneath my skin. She’s using Natalie’s memory as a weapon. She’s endangering our mate. I stood without a word, the chair scraping softly across the stone. The muscles in my jaw ached from how hard I clenched them. “Bring Elena to the east chamber,” I