Chapter 44

  Sonja

  The golden gown crushed my hips in its layers of bunched silk, but even that wasn't as uncomfortable as the stifling pressure in the room. Jasper held my seat out for me. The seat at the head of the table, and obviously the one that Westworth expected herself to be sitting.

  "This is blatant disrespect. Are you sure this is how you want this to play out? I gave you a choice to get out of this with everyone satisfied."

  "Your solution would have left you satisfied, and myself furious. I have no interest in marrying another royal. Sonja is my soul mate, I've been waiting for her for centuries, and now that I have her? There is no possible way I will allow the likes of you to separate us. You wanted this dinner to honor you, fine. But she'll always be the one that deserves all the honor in my heart." Jasper finished seating me, eyes defiant as he faced the Council head.