The scent of rain hung thick in the air.
Storm clouds gathered on the horizon, rolling across the sky like a warning. The air was tense, electric, carrying the weight of something inevitable.
Caroline stood at the entrance of the fortress, her hands clenched at her sides. Behind her, Ezra’s warriors prepared for war—sharpening blades, reinforcing defenses, readying for an attack that hadn’t yet come.
But it would.
Because Ezra had decided.
He wasn’t going to wait for Caelan to make his move.
He was going to strike first.
A Kingdom Built on Lies
"You’re making a mistake."
Caroline’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
Ezra didn’t turn.
He stood over the war table, his golden eyes scanning the map, his expression stone-cold.
"If I don’t move now, we lose the advantage," he sa
