Strength. Unity.
Family.
“We still need to make the press release—accept the venue and name our champion,” Darian reminded me, his voice steady but urgent.
I rose reluctantly. I didn’t feel like going to headquarters, not with everything pressing down on us, but I knew he was right. We couldn’t afford silence—not now. Alaric’s allegations, no matter how theatrical, had to be answered. Not just by me, but by my father and Martha too. It was the only way to weaken the weight of his words before they dug deeper into the hearts of the island.
Denis, Darian, and I left the women in the room and made our way to my office in the east wing. As we walked, I linked my father and Martha, asking them to meet us there.
To my surprise, when we arrived, Rowan was already inside, standing at attentio
