Cassian's pov

The first wave hit at dawn.

I stood on the battlements watching Veyran's army pour out of the Darklands like a plague and I felt something cold settle in my gut. This wasn't just an attack. This was an extinction event.

"Archers ready!" Kin's voice rang out beside me, steady and commanding despite everything we'd been through in the past hours. "Wait for my signal!"

Below us the eastern gate shuddered under the weight of shadow creatures that didn't belong in this world. Things ...