Serena’s POV

I stood at the edge of the stronghold, the heavy iron gate looming above us like a silent sentinel guarding our uncertain fate. The villagers clustered around me, their faces a mixture of fear and hope. The chill of the evening air only added to the tension, making each breath feel labored. Baird had gone inside to speak with Marcus, and the waiting was agony. My heart pounded in my chest, each beat echoing the dread and confusion that swirled within ...