Everyone gathered in Vio's room.
The air was heavy, thick with anticipation and dread. On the master bed, Vio lay beside Lav, his hand locked tightly around hers as if the smallest release might cause her to slip away forever.
Around the bed stood six others: Jaxen, Oliver, Bryant, Catarina, Evelynne, and Elowen, each carrying their own weight of guilt, hope, and fear.
Before bringing Lavanya, Evelynne and Elowen had explained everything to Catarina: Lavanya's true identity, her reasons, her sacrifices.
At first, Catarina had burned with rage. The girl had wrecked her marriage, her life, all for the sake of revenge. She had thrown them all out in her fury, vowing she would never forgive Lav for destroying her peace.
But Evelynne had persisted.
She had begged Catarina to reconsider, to see Lav beyond her mistakes.
