Annalise:
My stomach churned as hands rose, one after another, like slow daggers piercing hope. Half the council stood in favor of execution, including Duke Edward. The air grew suffocating as Vincent's sharp gaze prowled over the room, burning into the men who kept their hands down. His jaw clenched so tightly it looked as though it might snap under the strain.
"It seems the council is divided on the decision," Ravrik observed, his voice calm but laced with an undertone of tension. Six of the twelve men had sided with Vincent, while the remaining six, including Ravrik himself, sat frozen in deliberation.
My eyes darted to Atlas, who still stood tall amidst the storm, his posture unyielding, his gaze locked on me with unnerving confidence. Guilt stabbed through me, sharp and merciless, yet he gave me a smile—a faint, steady curve of his lips that screamed defiance.
