Mary Ann’s POV
Selene Raines arrived under guard shortly after sunset.
I had met Velvera’s mother only a handful of times before everything collapsed, but I remembered her well enough.
Elegant.
Controlled.
Always smiling without warmth.
She had been one of those women who could insult someone with perfect manners and make the victim look unreasonable for noticing.
Tonight, she did not bother pretending.
She entered the council chamber wearing a dark travelling dress, silver hair pinned tightly behind her head, and resentment visible in every line of her face.
Her gaze found me first.
Not Modric.
Not Viktor.
Me.
That told me enough before she spoke.
“You.”
The word sounded almost like an accusation.
I sat at the head of the smaller council table with Modric beside me. Kylian
