ARIA
The council chamber still echoed with Karla's challenge. The room felt tense and silent, as if everyone was waiting for something to happen.
I was still leaning heavily against Damian, my legs shaky, the aftermath of the partial shift making every small movement feel like fire in my muscles. His arm stayed locked around my waist, solidly, keeping me upright even as my knees threatened to give out again as he helped me up. The silver fur on my arms had mostly faded, but the tingling remained, a restless buzz under my skin that refused to settle. My breathing was still ragged, each inhale pulling at sore ribs.
Damian's body was tense against mine. I could feel the heat radiating from him, the faint tremor in his arm that told me he was holding back a storm. His thumb brushed
