Luciana snatched the glass of wine from her table and downed it in one bitter gulp. The burn sliding down her throat did nothing to ease her temper.
When Ronan left earlier, she had stepped out as well, curious to see if he would return to the hall for the solemn dinner prepared for the guests—or perhaps even seek out Ayesha. But he never came back.
Still, her timing had been perfect. She arrived just as Ayesha was being surrounded by the royal court ministers. From the sidelines, Luciana had quietly savored the sight, enjoying every second as Ayesha was pressed with questions and cornered by their scrutiny.
It should have been the moment of Ayesha's downfall.
But then everything changed.
The Alpha King himself had appeared, his presence commanding silence with nothing more than a glance. And before anyone could push Ayesha further, he had crossed the hall, pulled her close, and spoken words that made Luciana's stomach twist.
