*Daphne*
The air was thick with tension as we stood before my mother and father. Guards surrounded us completely. My parents had initially ordered me to stand with them and away from Rion and Eva, but I refused, determined to stay by their side to show that they were not a threat.
Eva kept her head down and her hands completely visible at all times as we stood in the royal throne room. Guards were stationed by the exit and several others were standing nearby, looking tense and ready to defend the royal family if needed.
My parents were sitting on their lavish thrones, but they too looked as if they could leap up from their seats at any moment. My mother kept glancing at me worriedly, her hand twitching as if she wanted to grab me and pull me close to her.
Once we'd entered the palac
