The room was thick with tension, the kind that pressed down on your chest and made it hard to breathe. Everyone was here and from the council, only Elward and Reagon were here since others were asked to stay in the infirmary.

Zion and I sat quietly, the steady drone of voices from the others buzzing in the background. No one dared look our way—not directly, anyway. They were too busy arguing over details, over plans that didn’t stand a chance.

I leaned back in my chair, ...