Plagued by nightmares of her father's imprisonment and Kellan's disappearance, Wren enlists the help of her friends to uncover the truth.
But can she be honest with herself? Promised in marriage, she faces the toughest decision of her life--which gu...
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The audience inside the circular chamber erupted in loud chatter. I've never felt more awkward with every person staring at us walking in.
People clustered by their talent in designated sections around the room. I scanned the Water Circle group opposite us—no Kellan. Rings of filled benches stared into the center of the room.
A robust man wearing a long white flowing robe smashed a stone against the rock pedestal. The layers of thin fabric draping his body floated with his movement, giving him the appearance of a bird in flight.
"Order!" He hammered the stone gavel again in a loud smack. "The council demands order!"
Just follow my lead.
A bear of a man stocked up the aisle toward us, gait wide and with purpose. His earthy jacket hugged his muscular frame, threatening to rip apart at the seams should he unleash the raw power contained beneath them. He stopped a few feet from us, drew a fist and smacked his chest. A cloud of dust pulled from his clothes, and he bowed.
Rock Circle?
Jaxon nodded, straightened to his full height and returned a stiff bow. He's their second.
I held my skirt wide and curtsied.
"Welcome back, Burnell." The man's gaze drifted to me and back to Jax. "I see your travels to our sister world was successful."
"Indeed."
The audience continued to murmur, watching on like we were their favorite actors playing out an episode on TV.
"Enough!" The man in white drove the stone down, and sparks radiated out to the first rows of attendees. His sleeves fluttered with his vertical movement.
I pulled my attention back to the conversation.
"The announcement. Did I hear correctly?" the bearish man asked.
Jaxon grinned. "That our partnership is in a few days? I think everyone in Acklemar knows that by now. Don't tell me my father forgot to send the Brackstone clan their invitation."
Brackstone let out a deep roar of laughter and shook a finger at Jax. "I should know better than to ask you a direct question. You always could shrug off even the most difficult questions."
The noise of the crowded room fell away.
"Cryer," the man in white hollered. "If you're trying to delay today's proceedings with this little stunt, so help me..." He shook the baseball sized stone gavel in his hand. "Check the register and correct your announcement so we can proceed."
The Cryer pressed his lips together into a thin line and balled his hands into fists. "I will not—check. I know my responsibilities, and my announcement of Their Highnesses is accurate to the ledger," he said stressing the word, is.
