Cassie's Pov
The fight was a s*******r.
I stood on the walls and saw our soldiers killed like wheat that'd been cut down by thorns.
They were warriors who never ever got defeated in battle, soldiers who had defended our borders for years.
But they were unprepared for this.
Then I noticed something strange, the reason why our men were being killed.
Dark magic ran through the Vale ranks like living mist.
It suffocated our warriors, weighted their blades in their arms. When it touched them, our men died and choked on air that would not fill their bellies.
"We're losing," Mark growled at my side.
"I know," I snapped, my fingers clenched around the stone wall so hard my knuckles ached.
"Mom," Lucas whispered, "there's something else."
I faced him. "What?"
He nodded towards a rid
