Nathan’s POV

The battlefield was too quiet, broken only by the groans of the wounded and the shuffle of warriors dragging themselves or one another from the dirt. Blood soaked the earth, the sharp tang heavy in the air, turning my stomach even as I forced myself to keep breathing. The rogues had melted into the night like shadows, leaving behind bodies, broken weapons, and silence that pressed against my chest like a weight I couldn’t shake.

I forced myself to stand tall despite the ...