The knock was soft but firm. It was not one of the warriors or the housekeepers, either. But I already knew.

I sat up from the window ledge, pulling the shawl tighter around my shoulders. I didn’t ask him to come in, but he did anyway.

The room shifted as soon as Reule stepped through the door. He didn’t say anything at first. He just stared at me like he needed to memorize something in case it vanished.

I stood. 

“Well?”

“They voted to keep me as ...