“No,” Poppy said.
The Sentinel blinked once—surprised, amused, impressed.
A second Councilor snapped, “She must not interrupt—”
“No,” Poppy repeated, sharper.
Mingxi’s foxfire quivered with pride.
The Sentinel folded his arms. “You heard her.”
Councilors choked.
He looked at Poppy again. “You lead your account. They listen. They do not interrupt unless you allow it.”
“And if they try?” Mingxi murmured behind her.
The Sentinel smiled—wolfish, subtle, promising disaster. “Then the Ashen Court will lose a few chairs.”
Lysandra said, “I volunteer to break one.”
“Later,” Poppy whispered.
“Fine,” Lysandra muttered. “But I’m stealing a paperweight.”
The Councilors flinched.
The Sentinel gestured toward the central table. “Shall we?”
Poppy stepped forward with Mingxi on one side, Lysandra on the other.
The Ashen Court—ancient, rigid, stubborn—made space for her.
Chapter 112
Poppy hadn’t even reached the central table when a tall, thin Councilor in silver-edged robes shot to his feet, staff cracking against the stone.
“I object,” he declared. “Lysandra Sinclair is a destabilizing force. Her visions are unpredictable and potentially dangerous. She should be detained for examination until the Court can determine—”
Mingxi’s foxfire ignited instantly, but Poppy reached the center of the room first, stepping between Lysandra and the Councilor, forcing a calmness sharp enough to draw blood.
“You will not lay a hand on my sister,” she said.
The Councilor blinked, obviously offended. “This is not your place to decide—”
Poppy’s voice softened, but it carried like steel drawn in a quiet room. “It isabsolutelymy place.”
Lysandra, behind her, whispered, “Oh, Poppy…”
The Councilor lifted his chin. “You overstep your authority.”
Poppy ensured her smile was polite, exquisite, and lethal. “Detain her?” she echoed softly. “Sir, you may as well suggest I hand her to wolves.”
Mingxi murmured without missing a beat, “An insult to wolves, my heart.”
She didn’t take her eyes off the Councilor.
“Lysandra is not your prisoner. She is not your specimen. She is not your property. She is my family. And if you attempt to seize her…” Her eyes brightened with silver flame. “Then you will do so over my dead body.”
