The first strike never landed.
Kaelira barely managed to raise her sword in time.
Steel crashed against steel, the force of the blow sending a violent shock through her arms.
She stumbled backward, disbelief flooding her heart.
Not because Ronan had attacked her.
But because she had seen his face.
His eyes were black.
His expression was empty.
Yet tears streamed down his cheeks.
Somewhere inside that body…
The man she loved was still screaming.
“Ronan!”
Kaelira refused to strike back.
She blocked another attack, then another, retreating through the burning streets as he drove her backward with frightening precision.
Around them, the battle seemed to disappear.
Soldiers from both sides stopped fighting to watch.
No one could believe what they were seeing.
“The prince…”
“He
