Aria's POV

The red moon hung low, casting a haunting glow over the valley. My heartbeat pounded in my chest as the mist moved, unveiling Zac's army like a waking nightmare. Their crimson eyes shone bright, and their growls echoed across the battlefield.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. He was supposed to be dead. I had seen his blood, smelled it in the dirt, and felt the end of his reign in my bones. Yet he stood there, untouched, grinning like death itself.

Damon's body tensed beside me, ...