Snow tapped against the north window in small dry bursts while Wren rewrote the representation clause for the fourth time.
The Alpha's office had emptied two hours earlier. Henrique had left the previous draft marked with three questions about confidentiality and one warning that the council would classify any partial vote as a rank amendment. Wren had answered the first three. The warning remained because it was not a question and because removing it would not make it less true.
Caelum worked at the opposite end of the desk, reading the charter with one hand against his mouth. He had taken off his jacket and folded it over the back of the chair. The rolled sleeves made the hour feel less formal without making him less controlled.
Wren disliked noticing that distinction. She noticed it
