Chase POV
As we moved through the grand halls, the tension was thick enough to slice with a blade. Every guard and servant we passed cast furtive glances at Leila, their instincts undoubtedly catching the scent of her wolf. I kept her close, my hand resting lightly at the small of her back, both a silent reassurance for her and a warning to anyone who dared question her presence.
Damon walked a step behind us, his grin practically feral as he drank in the unease rippling through the air. I knew he was relishing every second of this—watching me defy the council, daring to bring my mate into the heart of a vampire stronghold without their blessing.
We reached the last corridor before the royal wing, and I slowed my pace. The massive double doors at the end of the hall loomed like a final challenge. Behind them lay my father, the King—the man who had always seemed indestructible, now on the brink of death.
