~Serah POV~
"Why should we waste more time on her?" one of the Council elders hissed, his fangs glistening with fresh blood. "She's a traitor's mate, carrying an heir she doesn't deserve."
"I am not a traitor!" I snapped before I could stop myself. My voice rang through the chamber, too loud, too sharp, every pair of red eyes turning toward me.
Tristan groaned under his breath. "Serah, stop."
"No," I bit out, glaring at them even though my legs trembled under the weight of my swollen belly. "I will not be silent while they slander me."
Lydia's laugh and sat close to Jethro, dressed in crimson silk that clung to her body, her goblet filled with blood. "How noble and foolish, still playing the victim when you crawled into Tristan's arms behind your husband's back."
"That's a lie," I shouted, voice cracking. "I never—"
Tristan slammed his hand against the table. "Enough, Lydia." His voice was lethal.
Her smirk widened. "What will you do, Tristan Slater Castovian, the forbidden one from Nightbone pack! The Council should have burned you long ago."
The elders muttered, hissing his name. "Forbidden… cursed… He shouldn't be here."
Jethro's voice was like ice. "Sit down, Tristan."
Tristan didn't, he only stepped closer to me, his presence a shield though I knew it endangered him. "You will not spit her name like poison, Lydia."
"Or what?" she sneered.
The crack of his hand against her cheek silenced the chamber as Lydia stumbled back, clutching her face, eyes wide with rage. "You dare strike me...."
Chaos erupted and Elders rose from their seats, some baring their fangs, others slamming fists on the table. My father stood too, his voice booming. "This is proof! Proof of their affair because why else would Tristan defend her so violently?"
My mother's voice followed, cold as steel. "She's always been a disgrace daughter! Let Lydia rule in peace, please chain Serah and end this charade."
I turned to her, disbelief burning my throat. "Mother… how can you—"
Her hand sliced across my cheek before I could finish, the slap rang louder than the Council's growls. "You've always shamed me and I won't tolerate it this time around."
Tristan lunged, but Jethro's arm shot out, blocking him, their gazes locked, lightning cracking in silence as Jethro's jaw tightened. "If you raise your hand again in this chamber, Tristan, I'll have your head on the steps of the palace!"
"Try," Tristan growled, his fangs flashing.
Bloodlust thickened in the air. One elder drained his goblet and tossed it aside, crimson spilling across the table, another licked his lips, eyes fixed on my throat like he might lunge. My knees buckled, the heavy swell of my stomach pulling me down.
Jethro's fatherly calm was gone, his voice iron. "You disgrace yourself, Serah! You disgrace me and yet the child—" his eyes flickered to my belly, "the child is mine, that is the only reason you still breathe."
Lydia's voice sliced in, shrill. "No! The child is for Tristan's, can't you see it? He clings to her, he..."
"That's enough!" Jethro roared, his hand striking the table so hard that it cracked.
I should have stayed quiet or I should have lowered my head, but the fire in me rose higher. "If you hate me so much, kill me then!"
The chamber gasped.
Jethro's eyes burned into mine, with confused expression, "Don't tempt me, Serah."
"Then let me go!" I pushed. "Release me and see how long your throne stands when the truth of your cruelty spreads."
Tristan cursed under his breath. "She's going to get herself killed."
The Council elders erupted again. "Defiant wretch… burn her… silence her…" Their hunger was palpable and one leaned forward, red drool dripping down his chin. "One taste and I'd quiet her forever."
"Touch her and you'll answer to me," Tristan snarled.
Jethro raised a hand and silence fell again as his voice was cold steel. "She belongs to me, her blood, her body, her womb....all mine. Any hand that dares touch her without my command will meet fire."
Lydia seethed, clutching her bruised cheek and roll her eyeballs. "Unbelievable! Then show the Council you will not be swayed by pity."
The elders murmured approval and my father nodded grimly. "Yes, humiliate her and break her pride."
My heart raced. "Father… how could you say that to your own daughter?"
"You were never my daughter!" he snapped. "You are a stain, and I have rejected you enough."
I staggered back, my stomach heavy and tears burned but I swallowed them because if I cried, they would win.
Jethro's gaze cut across me, then to the Council. Finally, he nodded. "So be it! From this day, Serah is no longer my wife, she will continue to serve as maid until she births to the heir. Only then will she be granted mercy."
"No!" Tristan roared and his voice shook the chamber. "You can't reduce her to this—"
"I can," Jethro said flatly. "And I have."
Guards seized my arms, yanking me forward, chains clamped around my ankles, iron biting into my skin. My belly lurched painfully as they dragged me, my child kicking inside.
Tristan's growl shook the chamber, fangs bared. "Jethro, you'll regret this!"
"Take one step, and I'll tear her apart before your eyes," Jethro threatened, his crimson eyes blazing.
The guards shoved me down and my knees hit the cold stone as I gasped at the weight pressing me low, shame searing hotter than the iron chains.
Tristan's voice dropped to a whisper only I heard. "Do you want me to fight and kill them all?"
"No, don't!" though my heart screamed and want their blood spill but it will affect me.
Jethro stood tall, addressing the Council. "The matter is settled, anywhere you see her, make sure to address her as a maid till the heir will be born."
But Lydia leaned down, her breath hot against my ear. "This is only the beginning, step sister, I'll make your life miserable that you will regret the day you said yes to Jethro! Welcome to hell under me."
I wanted to bite back, to spit in her face but my body trembled, weak and heavy. Still, I forced myself to whisper, "You'll choke on your victory soon enough, Lydia."
Her smile was venom. "Not before you choke on mine."
The Council roared approval, goblets lifted, blood spilling over and my hunger twisted, shame and thirst battling within me.
Jethro dismissed them with a wave, but his eyes stayed locked on me for the briefest flicker, I thought I saw something like regret... but it vanished as quickly as it came.
I was dragged from the Council hall, chains clinking, Lydia's laughter ringing in my ears. Behind me, Tristan's growl still echoed, he had promised to come and I, despite my swollen body and chains, whispered to myself: "Let him come… before I drown in this humiliation."