Betty's POV. 

When Damien helped me to my feet, my legs felt like they were made of wet noodles. 

The cold from the Veil Stone still clung to my bones, and my palms were raw from gripping it for so long. I leaned into him without meaning to, just to stay upright.

The council kept whispering behind us, their voices sharp with disbelief.

“She shouldn’t have lasted.”

“No unaffiliated human has ever.”

“How did she…?”

I couldn’t even breathe properly.

Damien wrapped his arm ...