Ruby’s POV
The moment the scout left, the room was heavy with silence.
Manson stood rigid, his golden eyes locked onto mine, his expression unreadable. But I could feel the tension rolling off him raw, unfiltered, and dangerous.
He was scared.
Not of the council. Not of the looming war.
But of me.
“I need to test it,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me.
Manson’s jaw clenched. “No.”
I crossed my arms. “Yes.”
“You don’t even know what it is yet.”
I lifted my hand, letting a thin trail of dark mist curl from my fingertips. The magic felt alive, whispering, shifting, urging me forward.
“I know enough.”
Manson took a slow step toward me, his gaze flickering between my face and the magic swirling around my hand. “And if it takes over?”
“It won’t.” I took a s
