Chapter

Penelope POv

I felt my father's hand on mine as he gently took it into his grasp and gave it a reassuring squeeze. I turned to him and smiled, wanting to convey that I was okay, even though I could sense his worry for me.

In the back of the room, I caught a glimpse of Vespera's eyes among the crowd. We locked gazes for a moment before I turned away, the memory of our last conversation flooding back to me. The threats she had made were unsettling, and they frightened me. However, I knew Vespera well enough to understand that she only cared about herself.

I shifted my...