The ruling family of the fox tribe gathered in the sprawling living room, its walls lined with portraits of ancestors glaring down like silent judges. Jess and Jesse sat in high-backed chairs, at the head of the room, their presence commanding silence.
The air was thick with tension, though Sienna herself was blissfully unaware, curled up on a side couch, snoring softly, her hair spilling over cushions. She had been sleeping for two hours and showed no sign of waking anytime soon.
Ali, ever her mother's willing shadow, had joined her in slumber, clutching a stuffed space ship plush and drooling on Sienna's hair.
Elias sat rigidly in the chair closest to them, his jaw tight. On his others side was a couch occupied by his father. Lady Cadelaria was also sitting on that couch. She was leaning toward her husband, whispering urgently, but Marius was ignoring her. He was staring ahead as if she were invisible. The silence between them was louder than any argument.
