Nymera’s POV
The gates of Hollowfang stood open—split—like the fortress had bowed to him.
The Herald stepped through smoke and shattered wards, calm as a priest before a funeral. He wasn’t a beast. He didn’t roar or bare teeth. He didn’t need to.
His power hummed—alive, ancient, hungry.
Lira gripped my arm. “He shouldn’t be able to cross.”
“He didn’t cross,” I whispered. “He was invited.”
And I knew—somewhere in these walls, someone had broken their oath.
Again.
“I came alone,” the Herald said, voice silk and shadow. “You’ve killed my messengers. Burned our marks. But I am not here for vengeance.”
I stepped forward, ignoring the way my blood vibrated in my veins.
“You broke into my home. Killed my guards. What do you call this, if not vengeance?”
“An offering,” he said, and smil
