Erica's POV

I walked to the meeting hall and felt my breath being hitched in my throat. The maids, as they walked past me, gave me terrified greetings and hurried off in the other direction.

It did nothing for my nerves. I could only imagine what the council was going to say.

I soon reached the door that led to the hall and stood outside of it for a while. My heart was racing, and I was clutching it with my left hand as if it would do something to make it calm down.

“Easy, Erica. Easy. This is just a meeting. Nothing more."

I pushed the glossy black wooden...