Zane's Point Of ViewThe heavy iron doors of the throne room groaned shut behind the departing council elders, settling into the floorboards with a finality that left a thick, ringing silence in their wake. Those ancient lords had shuffled out in a cluster of whispered conspiracies and sidelong glances that made my skin crawl with unease. Now, only the three of us remained in the cavernous, drafty chamber. The Alpha King said nothing for a long, tense minute. He stood there, towering over us like a mountain carved from stone, his piercing gaze fixed on where Ronan's hand still clung to my waist, as though he feared I might vanish if he loosened his grip even slightly. At last, his father released a low, rough grunt. "Be prepared," he said, his voice dropping into that deep, flat gravel that sent cold shivers through the stones beneath my oversized boots. "The guards are already preparing the lower cavern. Don't waste the afternoon pacing." He paused, his eyes lingering on me for a
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