The tension in the war chamber was suffocating. The grand clock above the council table ticked relentlessly, each passing second bringing them closer to the inevitable decision. The officers stood in grim silence, some with arms crossed, others gripping their swords, waiting for the final verdict.Evan Drake exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders as if the entire discussion was nothing more than a tedious formality. He leaned back against the heavy wooden table, his arms folded, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips."This is absurd," he drawled, his voice echoing in the chamber. "We all know how this ends. Just make it official already, General. Announce the protocol. Calen Storm is dead."General Ironheart didn’t respond immediately, his jaw tightening. He stood at the head of the room, his hands resting heavily on the war table. His fingers curled into a fist for a brief moment before relaxing."He still has five minutes," Ironheart stated firmly."Five minutes to do what, exac

The heavy chamber doors sealed shut behind Calen with a deep thud, isolating him and General Ironheart from the outside world. The air inside the room felt heavier, thick with the scent of aged parchment and candle wax. Dim torchlight flickered across the ancient stone walls, casting long, shifting shadows over the shelves stacked with military records, war maps, and intelligence reports. A large, dark oak desk stood between them, its polished surface reflecting the cold glint in Ironheart’s steel-gray eyes."Sit," Ironheart commanded, his voice as sharp as a blade.Calen obeyed, easing himself into the sturdy wooden chair across from the general. His muscles screamed in protest, worn from the relentless journey, but his mind remained sharp. He had made it back alive. That alone was a victory.Ironheart leaned forward, hands clasped together, his gaze unrelenting. "Now, tell me. What did you see in Rivermoore?"Calen steadied himself. "I saw the Sacred River," he began, watching for t

Calen stood at attention as he awaited the king’s orders.King Ashford leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled in thought as he regarded Calen with a calculating gaze. "You will return to Vynoria," he said at last, his voice calm but resolute. "But this time, not as a spy. You will go as my envoy."Calen's brows furrowed slightly. This was not what he had expected.The king’s expression remained unreadable as he continued. "Deliver this message to Queen Elara Wynn: she will either marry me and unite our kingdoms, or she will face the full force of Aerondale’s army."The room was silent for a moment, the weight of the command settling between them.Calen bowed his head slightly. "Understood, Your Majesty. I will deliver your message as you have commanded."Though he spoke with unwavering respect, something twisted in his chest. He was being sent as a representative of the king—not with a sword, not as a soldier, but as a diplomat carrying a threat wrapped in an offer of alliance."G

The sky remained shrouded in darkness, with only the faintest sliver of dawn peeking over the horizon. A biting chill lingered in the air, swirling through the courtyard of the Royal Barracks of Ardenfell, where soldiers moved in well-practiced efficiency, making final preparations for the departure of Brigadier General Calen Storm.Rows of warhorses, sleek and disciplined, stood in perfect formation, their breaths misting in the cold morning air. Wagons carrying provisions, spare weapons, and diplomatic gifts for Queen Elara Wynn were secured under thick tarps, their drivers standing at attention. Thirty elite soldiers, handpicked for their skill and loyalty, were already mounted, awaiting their commander’s orders.At the center of the organized chaos stood Calen Storm. His freshly polished armor gleamed under the flickering glow of torches, the crimson cloak draped over his shoulders marking his new rank. Though the title of General still felt foreign, he no longer hesitated when ad

The heavy velvet curtains of Lila’s chamber were drawn shut, casting the room in a dim, melancholic glow. The only illumination came from a single flickering candle beside her, its golden light trembling with every shallow breath she took.She sat at the edge of her grand bed, fingers clenched tightly around the fabric of her nightgown. Her shoulders quivered with silent sobs, her chest tightening with an unbearable weight.Calen.Her heart ached at the thought of him.Would this be the last time she ever saw him alive?The memory of Evan’s cold smirk, his calculating voice as he spoke of Calen’s death—it haunted her like a specter in the dark. She had tried. She had tried to warn him. But Evan had stopped her.Now, he was riding straight into a trap, and she could do nothing to stop it.Lila pressed a hand over her mouth, muffling the sound of her crying. If Evan knew she was mourning Calen before he was even dead, he would only grow more suspicious. He would punish her.But she didn