Derek met his uncle's eyes without flinching. "Are you finished?"
Crane straightened, exhaling through his nose. "For now." He turned on his heel and left.
The silence lasted exactly seven seconds before the door opened again. Declan and Kai walked in together. Declan looked grim; Kai looked like he would rather be anywhere else.
Declan spoke first. "As much as I hate to say it, your uncle's right. You can't afford a family war right now. Half the council is already looking for a reason to hand your crown to Brian because you brought a Moonfang bride into the palace. If you keep giving them 'undeniable evidence' of your instability, you're handing him the throne on a silver platter."
Derek pinched the bridge of his nose. "There is no war. There was a spar. End of discussion."
