Calla’s POV

The Elders returned after twenty minutes of talking privately. Two more had decided not to be part of the judgment—one male Elder with dark hair and one female with striking violet eyes. Now only four Elders were left to judge me: the Chief Elder, an auburn-haired woman, a silver-haired man who had previously helped expose Harlow, and an older man with a long white beard who hadn’t spoken yet.

With two fewer judges, I felt a little more hopeful.

"We have looked over the ...