The Dragon King's Hated Bride

>>Aelin

The grand throne had sunlight streaming through the towering stained-glass windows and illuminating every furrowed brow, every clenched fist. Demons of every rank filled the space, their muttered whispers and sharp glares aimed squarely at me. I stood in the center of it all, my wrists bound in heavy iron shackles, my head spinning with the accusations that had spiraled out of control since dawn.

Ruoxy’s sobs pierced the air like daggers. She was sitting at the bottom of the throne stairs, wearing her white lacy dress as she sobbed, "My wedding is ruined!" she wailed dramatically, dabbing at nonexistent tears with a silk handkerchief. Her voice quivered just enough to rile up the onlookers. "It’s all her fault!" She pointed at me, "She’s cursed this palace! How many more lives will she take before you stop her?" With tear stained cheeks, she turned to look at the Queen who sat on her throne, her eyes on me.

A ripple of agreement swept through the room. The crowd wasn’t just murmuring now—they were snarling, their words cutting through me like shards of glass.

"Human filth!"

"Send her back to her kind!"

"She’ll bring ruin to us all!"

I flinched, their venomous words pressing down on me like a physical weight.

"Will you look at that, ’Princess,’" one demon sneered from the crowd, his tone dripping with mockery. "Finally showing your true colors, aren’t you?"

"I didn’t do this," I said, panic surging in my chest. "I swear, I didn’t—"

But my words were drowned out by the rising tide of hatred.