"Not this one," Damian said coldly. "Because Evelina—" His silver eyes burned as they met Kyle's. "—is my mate."
The throne room was filled with a heavy silence after Damian's declaration.
Evelina—my mate.
The words echoed in her mind loudly, with each part hitting clearly. Her pulse pounded against her ribs as the tension in the room spiked to dangerous levels.
Across from them, Kyle didn't flinch.
His bright blue eyes sparkled as his smirk gradually turned into a more thoughtful expression. He didn't seem surprised; instead, he appeared to be amused.
Like he had been expecting this reaction.
Like he had been waiting for it.
King Darius merely raised an eyebrow. "Your mate, you say?" His voice was slow and deliberate. "How interesting."
Lucian's gaze shifted between Damian and Kyle, keeping his expression hard to read. If he was displeased by Damian's outburst, he didn't show it.
Evelina, on the other hand, was very aware of the hundreds of eyes burning into her.
