Kieran’s POV

Pain shreds through me like wildfire. I can barely lift my head, yet I keep it tilted toward Scarlett, who is glowing with ancestral fire at the center of the battlefield. The enemy’s assault had been relentless, older and deadlier than anything I’ve faced. Every strike I had thrown, every shield I raised, every bond I had leaned on—it all led to this moment. And now, blood seeps through my fingers, warm and metallic, a stark reminder that even the strongest walls can ...