Chapter 84

Elodie

The evaluation came sooner than I expected.

At dawn.

No warning. No time to prepare.

The knock on my door wasn’t gentle this time. It wasn’t even polite. It was sharp and final, like a command that couldn’t be refused.

“Quinn Elodie,” a voice said from the other side. “You are to come with us. Now.”

Lysa rose instantly inside me.

Stay calm, she warned. Do not react unless you must.

I took a slow breath and opened the door.

Two Council guards stood ...