The hallways felt colder than usual as Kyle and I made our way toward the council chamber.
As we walked, his hand lightly brushed against mine every few steps. It was a gentle touch, meant to steady me, but I could sense the tension in him. He wanted me to stay calm and for everything to go smoothly.
Too bad calm has not been my strong suit for a while now.
The doors opened with a groan, leading us into a tense room. A semicircle of elders sat at the front, their serious expressions watching us closely. Warriors stood along the walls, looking like dark shadows.
'Yeah,' I agreed, my stomach knotting. Again and again.
Kyle's hand pressed against the small of my back as we stepped further in. His voice was calm and controlled. "Just try to keep it simple. Show them you are in control. Nothing more."
My throat bobbed as I nodded, but the weight of all those eyes on me prickled against my skin. The way they watched; it wasn't curiosity, it wasn't respect.
