Chapter 63

Valerie's POV

The council chamber hummed with noise when Darius and I arrived. The tall arched ceiling caught every murmur, amplifying the whispers and gossip they had heard about us.

Their eyes tracked me instantly—some openly, others with fleeting glances they thought I wouldn't notice. Because I had been exposed to them a lot, I was no longer bothered by their stares. It wouldn't affect me as l