New Alliance
Freya's POV
The marketplace in the neutral trade zone was alive with energy, a chaotic blend of scents, sounds, and colors. I pulled the hood of my cloak lower over my face, the rough fabric brushing against my skin as I tried to blend into the crowd. Around me, merchants called out to passersby, their voices competing with the clang of metal and the murmur of bartering voices.
Beside me, my loyal Beta Seraphina moved with quiet purpose, her sharp eyes darting across the bustling scene. She kept her voice low, her words clipped. “This feels reckless, Freya. Walking right into Shadow Claw territory? If they catch us…”
“They won’t,” I interrupted, my voice steady but strained. I couldn’t afford to let doubt creep in, not hers, and certainly not my own. “We need answers. An
