CHASE POV:
The journey back to the palace was a blur. The weight of her in my arms was both grounding and unbearable. Each step I took seemed to echo with the finality of what had happened. Leila was gone, her vibrant presence extinguished, leaving only a beautiful, lifeless shell.
The guards and Damon followed in silence, their usual chatter or strategic murmurs muted by the tension rolling off me in waves. Not a single one dared to speak, their eyes downcast whenever I passed.
By the time we reached the palace gates, word of the canceled coronation had already spread. The council members—those pompous old fools—were gathered in the entryway, their faces twisted in a mix of fury and confusion. I could feel their anger radiating toward me like heat waves, but the moment their eyes fell on Leila in my arms and the blood staining my clothes, they all went silent.
Good.
For once, they had the sense to shut up.