The air in the chamber shifted the moment we walked in.
I felt it in the way whispers quieted. In how every eye turned. In the smug tilt of Cyrus’s mouth.
There he was, seated beside Farrow like he belonged there. Like this was all going exactly to plan.
I paused just inside the room, heart thudding hard enough to make my chest ache. Jaxon’s hand hovered near mine, not touching, but close enough that I could feel the heat of his presence. Grounding. Steady.
We exchanged a look.
And then I turned back toward the panel, lifting my chin.
Farrow rose. “We’ve received new documentation relevant to the case. The Council has agreed to reopen questioning for clarification purposes.”
“From Cyrus?” I asked, my voice tight.
“Yes,” Farrow said smoothly, as if this wasn’t clearly a power play.
