Cassian's POV

The war room felt smaller than usual, suffocating despite its vast space. Maps covered every surface showing the Darklands sprawling across the center table like a festering wound on the paper. Torches burned low, casting shadows that danced across the faces of those gathered.

I hadn't slept in three days.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Verity's face as she fell, the way her body had gone limp, the terror in her eyes before they disappeared. My mate was taken from me. ...