Lucien Calder had slipped through Damien's fingers, but the war wasn't over.
It had only just begun.
Winter's Crown remained unaware of the new threat lurking in the shadows. To the people, Calder's rebellion had ended with his death. The kingdom was safe, rebuilding, thriving. But Damien knew better.
Lucien wasn't trying to seize power in a single, bloody coup the way his brother had.
No—he was dismantling the kingdom from the inside.
And that made him far more dangerous.
---
Back at the palace, Damien's inner circle gathered in the war room. The air was heavy with the scent of parchment and candle wax. Maps of the kingdom were spread across the table, marked with red.
Red for sabotage.
Red for betrayal.
Red for war.