The battlefield stretched wide under a blood-red sky, the ominous glow of the Blood Moon casting eerie shadows over the land. The King’s army moved like a dark tide, the Shadowbound hissing and shifting as they surged forward.
Behind them, the vampires marched in perfect unison, their crimson eyes gleaming with anticipation. At the center of it all stood the King, his figure cloaked in darkness, his gaze sweeping the battlefield with cold calculation.
Opposite them, Cassian’s pack stood their ground. Wolves in both human and beast forms bristled with anticipation, their growls low and threatening as they watched the enemy approach.
Cassian stood at the forefront, his golden eyes locked on the King. Lyra and Isla stood behind him, their expressions tense but resolute. Eryon was a few steps away, his blade at the ready, his focus unshakable.
As the two armies closed the distance, the tension thickened, the air crackling with the promise of violence. Cassian’s gaze swept over the enemy forces until it landed on a familiar figure.
Adrian.
His crimson eyes were unreadable, his stance poised but not aggressive. Cassian’s fury bubbled to the surface as he stepped forward, his voice booming across the field.
“You don’t belong here, traitor!” Cassian roared, pointing his blade at Adrian.
Adrian’s gaze shifted to Cassian, his expression cold but flickering with something else—pain, perhaps, or regret.
“I go where I must,” Adrian replied evenly, his voice carrying across the battlefield.
The werewolves snarled, their muscles coiling in anticipation, while the Shadowbound hissed and slithered forward. The King stepped into the light, his presence a dark force that silenced even the most eager of his soldiers. His crimson eyes burned as he regarded Cassian with contempt.
Cassian raised his sword, his voice cutting through the tension.
“Why waste bloodshed?” he called out, his gaze never leaving the King. “Let’s end this now—your son against me. If I win, you and your army retreat. If Adrian wins, the wolves surrender.”
The battlefield fell silent, the offer hanging in the air like a challenge no one had expected. Adrian’s eyes darted to the King, his jaw tightening as he awaited his father’s response.
The King’s lips curled into a slow, predatory smile, his gaze flicking to Adrian.