Kora’s POV
The night air was cold, too cold for summer. It pressed against my skin as Edward and I stepped out of the council chamber, Mara at our side. The courtyard had mostly cleared, but I could still see the shadows of wolves pacing along the perimeter, restless. They’d heard Mara’s words. Everyone had.
“Aaron doesn’t waste time,” Mara muttered, her arms crossed tight. “He’s testing us. If we don’t respond, he’ll think we’re weak. If we do, we risk falling into whatever trap he’s set.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. “So… what do we do?”
Edward didn’t answer right away. His eyes were fixed on the northern horizon, as if he could already see Aaron’s men waiting beyond the tree line. When he finally spoke, his voice was clipped, certain.
“We prepare.”
The rest of the night was ch
