The victory doesn't last through the night.
I'm walking home from the Exchange, still riding the adrenaline of the council session, when my phone rings. Mira's name flashes on the screen, and something about the timing, this late, makes my stomach clench before I even answer.
"Sevric." Her voice comes out fast, breathless, terrified in a way I've never heard from her. "Someone's outside my apartment. Two men. They tried the door handle twice already."
"Call the police."
"I did. They said ten minutes, but Sevric, I don't think I have ten minutes. I can hear them trying the lock now."
"Get to the bathroom. Lock that door too. I'm coming, I'm three blocks away, I'll be there in five minutes."
I'm already running, phone pressed hard against my ear, Mira's ragged breathing the only sound
