Chapter 197: The Question

ELIA

Her heart swelled at the conviction in her mate. The amphitheater had gone silent and Elia held her breath, praying they were being swayed.

"As King, by the terms of the Rite, I was forced to choose—either to take Lucine as mate and kill Elia—my true heart's call. Or to take Elia, and leave Lucine alive, to carry my regret.

"I do not deny that the wolf-daughter was harmed by the events of that night. And I do not deny that I grieved putting her through them. But there was no fulfilled vow to be broken. There was no choice taken out of the Creator's hand. There was only the Rite coming together in ways no one anticipated, by the hand of the Creator. And my choice. I made it. I stand by it. And you accepted her." He turned then and flashed her a smile before he went back to the crowd.