Chapter 171 Gathering Allies

• I woke on the council room floor with Darius's arms around me and the taste of my mother's death in my mouth.
• "Easy." His voice was rough. "You've been under for two hours."
• Two hours. It had felt like days. Living through my mother's final weeks. Watching her uncover my father's deals with rogue packs. Seeing Elder Maren warn her to stop digging. Feeling her terror when she realized the corruption went deeper than anyone suspected.