Elena’s POV

The council chamber felt colder than usual, though that might have been the blood loss making me shiver.

Torches lined the stone walls of the chamber, their flames flickering as restless shadows crawled over the elders seated around the long council table. Their voices rose and fell in heated argument, the sound echoing through the hall like a flock of crows fighting over carrion.

Each word scraped against what little patience I had left.

“She just tried to end the life of ...