*Julian*

I lead Xamara into the war room. Even after everything she’s endured, she walks with her head held high, her shoulders back. Nothing she’s been through has broken her spirit.

The members of the guard who brought her in stand stiffly around the table. Most of them fail to look at me. Those who do cannot hold my gaze. The leader of the group rubs a hand across his chin and shuffles his feet.

Offering Xamara the seat next to mine, I sit and take a deep breath. My voice cuts across the table like a whip. “Explain to me exactly what you thought you were doing.” The words...