No one dared speak, yet everything spoke. The soldiers stationed around the room pulled themselves upright with hands on their swords. Some of the courtiers gawked, while others took subtle steps back. Torrin’s hand held me more firmly against him while his other hand gripped his sword. His face went dark.
Mother and Father sat rigid still as if anticipating an attack. For a wisp of a moment that seemed to stretch into minutes, no one breathed.
The air constricted, and it felt as if the slightest movement would detonate the room. It had all come down to this moment. The tension in my chest increased, and I almost felt like gasping. I prayed, oh I prayed to whomever was listening that tonight would not bring conflict.
Glancing at Torrin and the blazing hatred in his eyes matching Erev
