"What do you mean mark her to convince the council?" Knox roared, his voice echoing off the stone walls of their throne room. "Have you both lost your damn minds?"
Kade stood near the window with his arms crossed, his posture rigid as carved marble. His face revealed nothing, but his jaw was tight. "That is the only way to end the clamor of the council, Knox."
"That is not the only way, Kade, and you know it," Knox spat back. "Why will I have to touch her to prove a point?"
"She is our mate," Kalem said quietly from where he leaned against the far wall, nearly lost in shadow. "Whether we like it or not."
Knox spun toward him, veins bulging at his temples. "They cannot dictate the terms of our claim! Why do we have to show them that we have claimed our mate?"
"Because they already think the mate bond has softened us, so we protect the girl."
