Chapter Eighteen: The Heart of the Storm
The days seemed to blur together in a whirlwind of preparation and tension. Evelyn knew that time was running out—Darius wasn't a man who waited, and the longer they delayed, the stronger his grip on the pact would become. Every day felt like a battle, one she wasn't entirely sure she was ready to fight. But there was no choice. She couldn't run anymore.
The enclave had begun to fortify its defenses. Warriors were on edge, sharpening their senses, and the council had called for a meeting to strategize their next move. Evelyn wasn't yet part of those discussions, but she could feel the weight of their decisions pressing down on her. The fate of their people now rested on her shoulders, and that truth, no matter how much she tried to deny it, kept her awake at night.