The council chamber of the Crescent Sun Pack was already tense when Elder Mira rose from her carved wooden seat. Her voice was calm but her eyes were iron-sharp as they cut through the murmuring elders.

“Bailiff,” she said, gesturing toward the heavy doors, “bring Ivy in.”

Moments later, the doors creaked open. Ivy stepped inside with a stoic stance, her heels hitting the marble floor as she moved as if she was a model on a runway show. Her expression was calm, too calm, and her ...