Lyria just stared at the woman in the chair.
For a second she forgot how to breathe.
The room had gone too quiet. Kael was in front of her, half turned, ready to jump if he had to. Mira had her sword up. Ronan looked like he wanted to laugh and swear at the same time. Selene went stiff in the doorway. Her father looked like somebody had punched him in the gut.
And the woman in the chair just sat there like she had every right to be there.
Like this was her room.
Like she had not just dropped a bomb in the middle of a hidden shrine.
"I am the one who wrote your transfer order," she said again.
Lyria finally found her voice, but it came out rough.
"No, you did not."
The woman looked amused.
"I did."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Who are you?"
The woman turned her head toward him, calm as ever. "That depends on who is asking."
Mira made a short sound. "I already hate her."
The woman smiled at Mira like she'd expected that too.
