Elise's voice was filled with malice, but she wasn't done yet.
"I came to Thornfield to celebrate an alliance." Elise addressed the crowd as she turned away from Azrael. "But I'm leaving deeply disappointed. What I've seen here is not strength or unity. Instead, it's a king swayed by human influence, allowing his mortal wife to make decisions regarding the Order's attacks."
Lyanna noticed doubt flickering on some faces.
Was Elise right? Had Azrael's decision to let her manage the refugees been a sign of weakness rather than strategy?
"The resettlement program, and the resources given to human refugees, along with our soft response to Order aggression, all is due to one human woman whispering in the king's ear.
Crimson Dawn cannot support weak leadership. We cannot ally ourselves with a court that favours humans over vampires."
Elise wasn't just insulting Azrael; she was questioning his ability to rule, suggesting that his marriage had weakened his judgment.
