The smoke spread through the council hall like a choking fog, thick and noxious, stealing the air from everyone who breathed it in. Within seconds, people were collapsing. The only ones seemingly unaffected were the masked men and Alighiero’s wolves. My vision swam, the edges darkening, but somehow, the poison didn’t seem to affect me as harshly. Through the haze, I saw Ermes, Diamante, and Leandro fall to their knees, gasping for breath, their bodies failing them. Gosto’s warriors ...