Chapter 42: Hearsay
I froze for a few moments but it felt like hours as everybody stared my way. I had so much to say but would they even listen?
“You don’t have to,” Velador said but I stood up without thinking.
I exhaled slowly and wished vampires were immune to anxiety. “Good morning,” I said and realized I spoke far too low. “Good morning,” I stated at a better volume. “Thank you for the invitation to this summit. I have been the duchess of the Avenadyn at my husband’s side for close to a year now and I have a knack for upsetting tradition. I know.”
“Then go back to your own kind!”
“I said enough!” the empress yelled and slammed the gavel again.
Why did she have my back? Did she have a hidden agenda? “Thank you,” I said before explaining, “You say I set a dangerous precedent but I say to the contrary! I have, we have proven that coexistence can happen and endure, and many of our people have come to like and respect me.”