The siege of Shadowveil had entered its fifth grueling day, and the mountain stronghold was beginning to show the strain. Cracks had appeared in some of the lower rune barriers. Supplies were stretched thin. Wounded warriors filled every available healing chamber, their howls of pain mixing with the distant war drums of the Eclipse army. Yet morale held — largely because of the Eclipse Queen fighting on the front lines beside her hybrid mate.
Liora stood on the highest southern battlement, the blood moon still casting its ominous crimson light over the battlefield. Power thrummed through her veins like a living storm. The Eclipse Shadow Curse had grown stronger with every clash, fed by the draining of enemy warriors and balanced perfectly by her deepening bond with Riven. She was no longe
