The days after the council meeting were stressful and filled with whispers. And even though George's outburst had stopped the elders for now, Evelyn could still sense their doubt weighing her down like a burden she could never get rid of. The council room had been filled with cold stares and harsh words from almost everyone, and even though she had stood up for herself, the memory still stayed with her.
Damien noticed these things; he always did.
Late one night, after the moon was already high in the sky, he found her in the library. She was sitting by the fire with a book that she wasn't even reading, and her eyes looked blank, like she was stuck in thoughts too hard for her to handle.
"Evelyn," Damien said quietly, with his voice breaking the silence in the room. She turned to him with a shocked expression and then gave a weak smile.
"You should be resting," she said softly.
