#Chapter 96 – Rage and Regret

Damon I carried Lila through the halls in silence. Servants froze when they saw me. Courtiers paled. One noble tried to speak—some hollow, startled protest. I didn’t hear it. My focus was on the woman in my arms. The way her breath caught. The way her fingers curled slightly into my shirt, even now. She didn’t know where she was. But I did. And I knew exactly where I was taking her. To my bed, and my protection. Let the Court watch. Let the Elders whisper. I walked through the front of the royal wing like I owned it—because I did. And she belonged here, in my arms, not rotting in the dark. The doors to my chambers opened before I even called for them. The servants stepped back in silence. I carried her across the threshold, already knowing I wasn’t going to leave her side. The door shut behind us with a soft thud, sealing the world out. I crossed the room in three long strides and laid her gently on the bed—my bed. The mattress dipped beneath her weight, and she