“This is a closed meeting—” “I’m tired of waiting for an invitation. I thought I’d invite myself,” Emariya said, sweeping into the ballroom on a cloud of confidence. The other Councilors stared in stunned silence. It only took her a moment to scan for a source of flame. Not only was there a hearth warming the room, several candles flickered on the Council table. Plus, the sconces lining the walls of the vast hall had been lit. Each of the candles surged spectacularly, announcing her entrance. “W-who let you out?” Reeve spat. The other five Councilors all stood also, and Lord Ralston began moving toward the other door, on the far side of the room. “I did,” Torian said, his voice razor-thin. Emariya warred with her own instincts. Part of her wanted to assault her brother before he could form a plan of his own. But she couldn’t suppress the part of her that had to know.
