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 situation correctly!” I add quickly, my heart hammering in my throat. “S-she said she wasn’t trying to hurt them. She said she was protecting them.”
Hale lets out a sharp, incredulous scoff.
“Protecting the
