The moment Vessar uttered his welcome, the skies above Westmark ignited.
Kaelin had faced storms of fire before—divine flame, hollow flame, and the wrath of gods themselves—but this? This was deliberate, calculated chaos. Magic fed by a shard, woven with malice.
The clouds churned red as a burning pulse echoed through the air. The Heartshard in Vessar’s possession floated above the citadel, rotating in a lazy, ominous spiral. It pulsed once—and a ring of flame exploded outward, encircling the castle.
Kaelin narrowed her eyes. "He's turned his entire city into a pyre."
Theron drew his blade. "Then we extinguish it."
---
Westmark’s gates slammed shut behind them.
Selene’s eyes scanned the surroundings. "No guards. No resistance. Just silence."
"No," Myrra corrected. "A trap. A grand
