Evelyn's POV

Evelyn felt it the moment she walked in, like the air itself had thickened overnight. The other sittings had been about formalities, motions, measured words, everyone posturing and staking ground. This one wasn’t polite, this one was sharp, it was the real deal.

She took her seat beside Reed, her fingers laced together in her lap, nails pressing into her own skin just to keep herself grounded. Carmen wasn’t inside — she was outside with Jayden, pacing, waiting, praying. ...