Lily POV
I stood up abruptly, needing to move, to pace, to do something with the nervous energy flooding through me. "So let me get this straight. If I accept Nathan as my Sovereign Guardian, I give up any chance of having a normal life, of finding a true mate, of choosing my own path. But if I reject the bond, I give up any chance of fulfilling my destiny, of helping my people, of being who I'm meant to be."
"I know it's not fair," Uncle Tobias said quietly. "Our ancestors didn't design this system with fairness in mind. They designed it for survival, for power, for the ability to rule and protect our kind."
Celeste stood up and put her hand on my shoulder. "Lily, you don't have to decide right now. Take time to think about it, to process everything—"
"And what about Nathan?" I interrupted, turning to face my uncle. "Does he know about this price? Does he understand what it means?"
