Winter's Crown had never felt so divided, yet so close to victory. The war had waged long, but cracks had begun to form in Calder's coalition. Lord Alaric's defection had provided Damien with a key advantage—intelligence on Calder's hidden fortresses and supply routes. But even as the court started to align behind Damien, he knew that the war was far from over. Calder had survived too many defeats, and his final move was still uncertain.
The war room was filled with quiet tension. Damien stood at the center, his steel-gray eyes locked onto the massive map spread across the table. His inner circle had gathered—Amara, Carys, Erynn, and now Alaric. The former coalition ally stood opposite Damien, his hazel eyes calm but watchful.
"You've seen Calder's tactics firsthand," Damien said to Alaric. "Tell me—how does he respond when cornered?"