Chapter 39

Jaxon POV

The clinking of cutlery and low murmurs of the council's dinner was the only sound in the room. I barely tasted the food on my plate. My mind was too consumed with everything. And now, it was Kairo. I didn’t invite him. He wasn’t supposed to be here. 

Kairo swaggered into the room, his dark coat trailing behind him. He smiled as if the world belonged to him. He pulled out a chair, scraped it intentionally against the polished floor, and dropped it beside Elder Rowan.

“I didn’t realize this dinner was open to... you,” I said, setting my fork down slowly, my voice calm but cold.

Kairo leaned back in his seat, that eerie smirk still playing on his lips. “Didn’t realize my presence scared you this much.”

The room went silent.

Elder Lysia gla