Ivy pov

The hall was still buzzing with whispers after Lucien’s speech. People argued in low voices, trying to understand everything that had just happened. I heard someone say, “Celeste lied for all these years?” Another argued back, “But why would she betray her own blood?” A group of elders spoke loudly near the front.

“This changes everything,” an elder said.

Another replied, “It changes too much.”

Someone else snapped, “We should have listened sooner.”

Lucien was ...