Betty's POV. 

The council hall felt colder today.

Maybe it was just my hands that were cold, my breath felt uneven, my heartbeat thudding too loudly in my ears. 

The elders sat in a perfect crescent, their robes shimmering with runic light. 

Damien stood not far from me, arms folded, jaw clenched like he wanted to fight fate itself.

I kept my eyes on the marble floor, replaying everything I had survived and everything I hadn’t.

Then the Councilwoman rose.

“Betty Daniels.” she ...