Everyone is ushered into the sitting room off the side of the Ballroom. My parents and friends are left behind but I follow Liam into the room. Liam finds an empty chair and holds his hand out for me to sit down. I sit and Liam remains standing beside me.

I think about my parents and friends. I know the Ballroom guests will be safe because the entire Ojuelan army was flooding in and standing guard outside on the patio as we left. Even the guests that are soldiers, step away from their ...