A Seed of Doubt

Stella

I suddenly jolt up from my seat so abruptly that my chair falls to the floor with a clatter behind me.

The table falls silent. My staff and Lucius all blink up at me, each face more confused than the last.

“Stella, are you quite alright?” Lucius asks, rising cautiously. “Are you hurt?”

I swallow. A sudden wave of intense nausea is taking over me, and I feel like I might vomit at any moment.