Page 114 of Nearly Dead

The chamber erupts in chaos, everyone talking over each other.My father’s face goes from shock to calculation in the span of a heartbeat.He stands and comes around the table to be near me.Anthony’s mouth drops open.Astrid looks proud.

And me?I feel like the floor has dropped out from beneath my feet.“Wait, no, that’s not?—”

“Impossible,” Elder Birch protests.“She’s barely controlled her own nature, let alone?—”

“She stood against two of the greatest threats our community has faced in centuries,” Costin counters.“She has demonstrated not just power, but wisdom.She’s fulfilled multiple prophecies.”

Why is Costin fighting for this?I don’t want to be on the council.That’s worse than being named Alpha and having to be responsible for just the wolves.

“She is untested,” Madam Britannia argues.“Too young?—”

“She completed the labyrinth when she was still human,” Anthony puts forth.“How many mortals do you know who would have made it through those trials?”

“Few have faced what she has and emerged stronger,” Astrid interjects.

Through it all, Zephronis watches me, waiting for my response.He lifts his hands.The room falls silent, their arguments exhausted for the moment.

“Tamara Devine,” Zephronis says into the quiet.“Will you accept this responsibility?Will you stand as voice for those who have none, as bridge between worlds that have too long been separate?”

My father steps closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.“Think of what this means for the family, Tamara.The prestige, the influence.You must say yes.Don’t you see what this could mean for us?”

I look at him, really look at him.My father, always calculating, always maneuvering.In his own way, he cares for me, but he will never understand what truly matters.

“I’ll consider the nomination,” I say finally, addressing the council rather than my father.“But I have conditions.”

Elder Decimus raises an eyebrow.“Conditions?You presume much.This is an honor.Not a negotiation.”

“I presume nothing,” I reply evenly.“I simply know what I’m willing to accept.”

“What conditions?”Vasilisa asks.

“Speak your terms,” Zephronis encourages, ignoring the discomfort of some of the council members.

“First, my position will be entirely my own.Not an extension of the Devine family’s influence, not a puppet seat controlled by others.I will speak with my own voice or not at all.”

My father stiffens beside me.I continue without pausing.

“Second, I will work with Sully to ensure werewolf concerns are fairly represented.They have been relegated to the margins for too long.The werewolves will have a seat at the table.”

Several council members shift uncomfortably, but none object outright.

“Third, I require time.Time to fully master my abilities, time to understand what I am and what I can be.I will not take a council seat until I am certain I can fulfill its responsibilities properly.”

Zephronis nods, a glimmer of approval in his ancient eyes.“Reasonable terms, all.The council will consider them.”

“There is no need for consideration,” Madam Britannia says, surprising me.“I, for one, find these terms acceptable.Tamara Devine has shown wisdom in not grasping for power before she is ready.It speaks well of her judgment.”

One by one, the other council members nod their agreement, even Elder Birch, though he does so reluctantly.

“Then it is settled,” Zephronis announces.“Tamara Devine will join this council when she is ready, as representative of a new faction.A year should be enough time.We don’t meet again until then, anyway.Until that time, she will be afforded the respect and protection due a council nominee.”

A year?That’s not exactly what I had in mind when I said I wanted time to master myself.Zephronis knows it too.I see it in his expression.

“It is decided,” Zephronis states.

It’s over so quickly I barely have time to process what’s happened.The council moves on to other business, and we are dismissed with ceremonial courtesy.As we leave the conference room, I catch Anthony by the arm.

“What was all that about?”I whisper.

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