The capital in daylight was nothing like the city they'd raced through weeks ago. It was bigger, colder, every banner snapping in the wind, every gold rooftop shining like a warning. Ivy felt the weight of all that power pressing down on them as they neared the palace gates.
"No word from Bianca's contacts," Kaelan said quietly, scanning the crowd gathering for the session with visible tension. "We're going in without the captain's testimony."
"Then we work with what we have," Ivy said, forcing steadiness into her voice despite the fear coiling tight in her chest. "Serrin's testimony. Wren's presence. Whatever credibility any of that carries."
The council chamber swallowed Ivy whole. It was a massive, circular hall, tiered seats rising all around, packed with pack representatives and mi
