Lucien pov

The world around me burned, but all I saw was Vincent Marek stepping into the courtyard.

Flames cracked behind him. Bodies lay everywhere. Wolves limped, bled, or dragged each other to safety, but none of it reached me. My focus locked on him.

He raised his weapon, smiling like this was some game he had waited years to play.

“Lucien,” he said. “I expected more guards. More fear.”

I stepped closer. “You came here to die.”

He laughed. “You think you can kill me after ...