Urdon Pov
The knife came away from Freda's neck.
I watched the metal slide back, leaving a thin red line on her skin. Silas was shaking so hard the blade rattled against his own knuckles.
He didn't look like a winner. He looked like a man who had just realized the floor was rotting under his feet.
"Get over here," I said to Freda.
She didn't run. She walked slow and steady, keep her eyes on Silas until she reached my side. I put my hand on her shoulder and her shirt was damp with sweat.
She was breathing fast but she didn't look scared anymore. She looked like she wanted to bite someone.
"You said it," Silas said. He pointed the knife at the floor. "You said you stepped down. Everyone heard it."
"I said what I had to say," I said.
"It doesn't matter," Silas said. He looked at Hagar, who was still standing in the kitchen doorway. "Hagar, go tell the others. Urdon is out. I'm the lead. Tell them to open the rest of the doors."
