Valerian closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the breath slow, controlled—almost deliberate. The slow rise and fall of his chest the only sign that he was restraining something far more dangerous beneath the surface.
To anyone watching, it might have seemed like a simple act of composure. But those who knew him well understood the truth.
The king was holding himself back. Holding back the storm that threatened to tear through the chamber and reduce every man present into nothing more than trembling wrecks.
For a fleeting moment, the king of Virelia stood not as a ruler before his council—but as a man standing at the edge of his own fury.
Because the truth of the matter was not lost on him. He knew the truth of the situation. He knew the law. And more importantly—he knew the consequences.
