POV EMMA BELLE
The heavy obsidian gates of the Black Crag groaned open, but this time, the sound didn't echo with dread. It was met with a roar of approval that shook the very foundation of the mountain. The survivors of the Iron-Oak outpost, the warriors of the Northern packs, and the children I had sworn to protect were all there, lining the ramparts to witness the return of their Queen.
I walked at the head of the procession, but I wasn't alone. Félix was at my side, his hand firmly interlaced with mine. He was still limping slightly, his skin pale where the silver had bitten deep, but his head was held high, his green eyes shimmering with a quiet, fierce pride.
Behind us, Damon and Nathaniel led the vanguard, their expressions a complex mixture of awe and exhaustion. They lo
