EMBER’S POV

The air leaves my lungs.

Every single eye in the room snaps to me. Even Knox turns his head.

A brief flash of confusion at Hale’s sudden pivot flares in his eyes, but it’s immediately replaced by a deep, searching interest.

He is looking at me to see what my truth is. To see what I believe.

And under the terrifying pressure of the room’s stare, I find something far more terrifying—Knox would take my word over hers in a heartbeat. No questions asked.

“I—” I stumble back a half-step. “No. I mean—yes.”

A fresh wave of gasps hits the room.

“But I don’t think I read the...