LAYLA

I waited till dinner was over.

I don’t know why. Maybe because I didn’t want to ruin the silence. Or maybe I was just scared to open my mouth and change… everything.

The hall was weirdly quiet tonight. No council. No over-dressed alphas flexing in every seat. No nobles. No maids flanking my sides, asking this and that. No kids running down the corridors.

Just me and Del.

We sat across from each other — this massive table between us like a freaking canyon. He didn’t say much. ...