Jasmine’s lungs still felt scorched from the trial fires, though the Council had declared her “unbroken.” They did not witness her fall outside the chamber, shaking as if her bones wished to break apart. Caleb had grabbed her before she fell, and even then his hands remained close to her sides as if she could break at any instant.

"I'm okay," Jasmine fibbed, pulling away from his hand. Her body was far from okay—each nerve shrieked as if it had been skinned alive. The soul trial was not meant to cause scars, yet her chest still ached where her ancestors' phantom blade had stabbed her heart.

Caleb’s teeth gritted tightly....