Chapter 21
**Maureen**
The silence after the courtyard incident was worse than the whispers before it.
People stopped talking when I entered a room. Not out of fear—out of uncertainty. They didn't know where to place me anymore. I was no longer invisible, but I wasn't accepted either.
I existed in between.
That night, sleep refused to come. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw faces—some curious, some resentful, some quietly hopeful. It scared me more than hatred ever could.
Hope made people reckless.
A soft knock came at my door.
I tensed. "Come in."
Nathan stepped inside, closing the door behind him. His expression was serious, almost apologetic.
"You shouldn't be alone tonight," he said.
My stomach tightened. "What happened?"
"The elders met again," he replied. "Without Stefan."
Cold washed over me. "Is that even allowed?"
"Technically," he said. "They're exploiting old clauses."
I exhaled slowly. "What do they want?"
"You," he answered simply.
