The palace square was so utterly silent that you could have heard the tiny, rhythmic breathing of a small bird perched on a nearby branch. Every person in the massive crowd seemed to be holding their breath at once, their eyes glued to the high stone balcony where Alpha Damon stood like a king carved from shadow. His face was a mask of cold fury, his eyes narrowed into slits of ice, and his jaw was set so tight it looked like it might crack the bone. He didn't look like a leader; he looked like a god of war preparing for a sacrifice.
"Bring him out!" Damon commanded. The order didn't just fall from his lips; it thundered, his voice acting like a heavy iron hammer hitting a war drum. The sound echoed off the stone walls of the palace, making the very air vibrate with authority.
I watched
