The Huntress was gone.

Her laughter still clung to the walls like smoke, though her body had fled, leaving only bone shards and the stink of marrow-blood.

The throne hall was in ruins. Walls melted, floor cracked, the banners above reduced to ash. Wolves limped and bled, some weeping, some still howling Kael’s name in fear and awe.

But my eyes weren’t on them.

They were on him.

Kael’s chest still smoked, his scar glowing faintly red-gold. His wolf form had already broken, leaving him ...