Dawn came cold and gray.
No sunrise. Just a slow bleeding of light through heavy clouds, like the world itself didn’t want to watch what we were about to do.
The Citadel courtyard was alive with movement. Armor clanking, horses snorting, wolves shifting and stretching before the run. The legion stood in formation - 200 strong, the best of our warriors. Silver-plated armor, black cloaks, eyes hard and ready.
Aria was already in the inner keep with Lyra and two guards. I’d kissed her forehead before leaving and promised I’d be back before her next nap. The lie tasted bitter, but it was the only one I could give her.
Darius rode up beside me, his massive black wolf already shifted. His silver eyes met mine in human form, and for a second the whole battlefield faded.
“You don’t have
