Dawn came slowly.
The battlefield of Black Hollow Village was silent now.
Smoke rose from the ruined houses. The bodies of the Night Beasts had already begun dissolving into black ash, leaving behind nothing but claw marks and shattered earth.
The Royal Guard moved quietly among the wreckage, helping the wounded.
No one spoke loudly.
Everyone had seen what happened.
Everyone had seen the Queen fall to her knees.
Rowan stood at the edge of the village, staring into the dark forest.
His knuckles were still white around the hilt of his sword.
Behind him, inside one of the few houses still standing, Ivy rested.
Seraphine had forced her to.
“You can’t keep pushing your power like that,” the witch had said firmly. “Not while the child is still forming.”
Rowan exhaled slowly.
For the
