Dorian’s pov.

Several days had passed, and everything had changed. I'd accepted Regulus and Ravena's offer. Regulus had worked his political magic and swayed the Alphas. I had been named temporary king, the title handed to me out of urgency rather than tradition. There had been no grand ceremony. No elaborate declarations. Only cold, hard necessity.

Maximilian had known. The moment he saw the shifting loyalties, he understood the game was over. He'd handed me the crown with no ...