Together they walked into the mansion, heading straight upstairs toward the main dining area. By the time they arrived, Jared wasn't the least surprised to see two of the three council members already waiting inside.
They dropped to one knee the moment he entered. Jared gave them a curt nod as he strode to sit at the head of the long, dark table, while Clara settled gracefully into the seat beside him.
Her fingers and dark hair shimmered with silver jewelry that caught the soft glow of the chandeliers, matching the glint in her brown eyes. She looked breathtaking—elegant, regal—but Jared gave her only a passing glance before focusing on the steaming plates in front of him.
With a flick of his hand, he gestured at the servers for the wine that, to his annoyance, had been placed slightly out of reach.
As tradition dictated, he began eating first, slicing through the meat on his plate. He had barely taken a bite of the rich, seasoned mutton when the silence was broken.
