A court courier approached in a tight black uniform, the Rayne crest stitched in silver at his collar. He moved fast, head low, and extended a sealed missive toward Zander.
Zander took it with a frown, breaking the wax and reading quickly.
His body tensed before I could even ask what it said.
The smile from moments before was already gone.
“I have to go,” he said, folding the letter.
My heart sank. “Zander?—”
He was already stepping back, eyes darker now, focused on something far away.
Something that had nothing to do with Thrall Squad, or Kaelith, or us.
Just the crown.
And all the shadows that came with it.
ChapterEleven
The barracks were warm with muted lantern light and the lingering smell of leather, sweat, and a hint of something sweet. Ferrula had grabbed some biscuits again, judging by the crumbs dusting her boots.
I stepped inside to the sound of laughter.
“And then he just stood there,” Tae was saying, half-doubled over, “like he’d seen the gods piss on his boots.”
“The look on his face!” Riven gasped, wiping tears from her eyes. “I thought he might actually vomit.”
Jax sprawled on his bunk, one arm over his face as he laughed. “I’m still trying to figure out what was funnier. Mysan’s precision aim, or thesquelchit made when it hit the podium.”
Cordelle wrinkled his nose dramatically. “That smell will haunt me for the rest of my days.”
“Pretty sure it singed my eyebrows,” Naia added dryly. “I deserve hazard pay.”
Even Ferrula smirked, though she was methodically sharpening her blade. “A dragon’s fury… poetic justice.”
I grinned and dropped onto my bunk, letting the warmth of the squad’s shared amusement wash over me. We hadn’t had many moments like this lately. When it felt like we were more than just soldiers. Where it felt like family.
But just as Jax was launching into a dramatic reenactment of Major Kaler dragging the wheelbarrow across the courtyard?—
The alarm bell rang.
An echoing clang that silenced everything.
We froze.
The second chime came louder. Urgent.
Castle alarm.
We were on our feet instantly with our armor half-strapped, weapons grabbed, and laughter vanishing like breath in frost.
Tae was already at the door. “Let’s go!”
We spilled out of the barracks into the night, the stars overhead drowned by the pulsing glow of emergency lanterns flickering to life. The courtyard was already alive with movement—riders shouting, dragons wheeling above in tight defensive arcs.
And ahead of us, just beyond the glow?—
