Chapter 58: Shadow
A young, bulky man with fierce brown eyes stood up, smacking the table. He was massive and tall, possibly the heir of the Bear Clan. His voice echoed, sending a shudder down Ren’s spine as he spoke loudly, blaming those who hesitated. "How dare you sit when your King commands you to rise for his Bride? Has he not done enough for Thegara when we were being hunted? When goblins and witches sought to take this land from us, he was the one who brought unity among us."
Ren was now sure that this man was the heir of the Bear Clan. Rail had said he was loyal to Thegara and didn’t care about this trivial marriage matter. His light brown, curly hair matched his dark skin. He was handsome too, likely with many ladies doting on him.
The Cat Clan and three of the Wolf Clans murmured among themselves. Whispers and rising tension made Ren’s stomach churn.
A loud laugh filled the air, drawing all eyes to the silver-haired man sitting at the top of the Serpent’s table. He was middle-aged, with icy gray eyes that made Ren realize just how venomous this reptilian man was. His laughter carried an irony that mocked everyone present, despite the weight of the decision they faced.
That laughter demanded an explanation before his face inevitably met the curled fists of the furious Bear heir. He had his fingers already curled.
As the laughter ceased, a deafening silence settled over the tent, mingling with the suffocating tension. Ren could hardly breathe. She didn’t want them to fight or kill each other.
The slender man, clad in a long, lavish black robe, left his table, goblet in hand. Leisurely swirling its contents, he walked to the front, turning his back to the audience and facing the platform. Daring to meet Thegara’s ruler’s gaze, he went on, "A normal man forges a marriage with love. But a wise ruler forges a marriage that benefits the land. And our beloved Prince has proven time and time again—he always chooses to be a wise ruler!"
Beloved Prince? So the Serpent Clan had not yet accepted him as their King, believing him to be only the King of Wolves. Well, this was a big rift in this society. How, then, would these people accept her? And when the vicious Serpent shifter aimed his devilish gaze at Ren, her heart skipped a beat. The loathing in his eyes was palpable, seeping into her very bones.
"But I refuse to accept her. She is human, and humans are not welcome as royalty in Thegara. They can only be..." His eyes shifted to his handmaiden, dressed in tattered rags to serve him. "Tools to play with!" He licked his lower lip with a nasty expression that stirred Ren’s stomach. As if to seal his insult, he tilted his goblet and poured out the fine beer the Beard Faun had sent.