Olivia’s POV
The doors of the council chamber slammed shut behind us, their echo chasing me down the corridor like the toll of a bell that announced my fate. The air outside felt different—thinner, harsher—as though the walls themselves had carried away every breath of courage I had managed inside.
Tomorrow.
That single word was a mountain crushing my chest. Tomorrow the council would speak, and their verdict would either carve a path forward or bury me beneath the weight of their judgment.
Lucas’s arm was still firm around my shoulders, his warmth anchoring me as we walked. Marcus followed a few steps behind, silent, his expression carved from stone. Ava, usually quick with sharp words or soft reassurances, said nothing. We were all wrapped in the same silence, the kind that pressed a
