Chapter 1218
Chapter 1218:
Clayton lowered his head, a look of helplessness in his eyes. “We don’t have the full picture yet, Makenna, but someone is definitely working behind the scenes. These rumors have taken over Marehelm, and they’re a threat to everything we stand for.”
I clenched the document in my hand, feeling it pulse with tension. Taking a deep breath, I forced my face to stay neutral. “And the protesters? What’s their situation?”
Bryan rubbed his temples, his face etched with both fatigue and concern. “They’ve been held back for now, by force. But this is just a temporary fix. It could stir up even more anger, more resistance.”
I nodded, taking in his words. A heavy hand would only make matters worse, possibly sparking a firestorm far bigger than this. We had to get to the root of the problem.
“Someone’s definitely pulling the strings,” I said after a pause, my tone calm as I analyzed the growing mess. “We need to act fast. A plan is essential.”
The princes shared a look, their faces hardening with silent resolve.
Makenna’s POV:
The city felt heavier with every passing day. The protests were no longer distant murmurs but loud, relentless cries spilling into the streets. Angry residents thronged the sidewalks, fists raised high as their chants echoed through the concrete maze.
Those restless sounds clung to my mind long after they faded into the night. They seeped into my thoughts, coiling tight around my chest, stealing away the quiet sanctuary of sleep.
Long past midnight, I sat by the window, my arms wrapped around my knees, staring into the endless black sky.
“Makenna, you are still awake?”
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Clayton’s gentle voice floated from the doorway, soft and steady. I turned, startled, to see him standing there with a bowl of steaming soup cupped carefully in his hands.
“I cannot sleep,” I murmured, my voice low and worn.
He stepped forward, quiet and deliberate, and set the bowl on the table beside me. Then he lowered himself onto the seat, his presence wrapping around me like a protective shield.
“You have been carrying too much, Makenna. If you keep pushing yourself like this, you will fall apart.”
He nudged the bowl toward me, his eyes gentle. “Drink a little. It will help calm you.”
I nodded, lifting the bowl with trembling hands. The warmth spread through my fingers as I took a tentative sip, the rich taste grounding me.
Clayton reached out and gathered me into his arms. “This will pass. We will get through it.”
His quiet promise eased something in me, loosening the knot that had clenched inside my chest all day. Bathed in the flickering light, an impulse stirred within me. I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss against his lips.
“Thank you… for always being here.”
For a brief moment, surprise flickered across his face—then a tender smile curved his lips. He cupped my shoulders, guiding me gently back toward the bed as he deepened the kiss, his warmth enveloping me.
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