Chapter 76: Bruised Loyalties
Kiel
"You don’t get to tell me when to stop talking, Thorne!" I snapped, slamming my hand on the table, the veins in my arms pulsing with fury. "You think I’m just going to stand here and let them blame me for something that Michelle did?"
My voice echoed in the council hall. Elders sat stiffly in their seats, some with narrowed eyes, others watching with veiled judgment. I didn’t care. They could all burn for all I cared right now.
"She drugged me!" I growled, glaring at them. "And yet somehow I’m the one being made to look like the villain?"
Thorne stepped forward, his expression hard. "Kiel. That’s enough. Be quiet."
My head snapped toward him. "No! Don’t tell me to be quiet!" My voice came out harsher than I intended, but the anger boiling in my chest needed release. "You weren’t there! You didn’t see how she—how it—" My words stumbled over themselves as rage took over. "This isn’t my fault!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Varen moving through the crowd, forcefully pushing elders and betas out of the room. Chairs scraped against the stone floor, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t done.
I surged forward and shoved Thorne with everything I had. For once, I wanted him to feel it. To feel even a fraction of what was tearing me apart inside.
To my shock, Thorne actually staggered back.
But then, fury overtook his features.
He grabbed me and shoved me down into the nearest seat like I weighed nothing. I bounced against the wooden armrest with a grunt, but scrambled up, ready to swing again.
"Don’t you dare manhandle me!" I shouted.