The official proclamation of war threw the city of Asghavia into a frenzy. Day by day, male and female citizens poured into the castle barracks to volunteer for the army.With each person recruited, the number of able-bodied soldiers increased exponentially but with the reports Emperor Daegal received from Aesos and Alsayf, their numbers were not enough.Sejukgheim and Nebulos swore to provide their large armies but with the men Babatunde Alen previously amassed and certain Chiefs in Alsayf bending the knee to him as well as the entirety of Aesos declaring their open rebellion against the crown just the day before, the situation was not looking encouraging.Aesos' betrayal came as a shock to Naomi but Daegal received the news with minimal surprise. Magic was rarely practiced there—almost forbidden— and only a few people like Indah, the old priestess who came close to killing Naomi, and some diviners were able to wield magic though not as powerfully as the mages and witches of Nebulos

"Pathetic." He removed the sword from where it kissed her flesh and pointed it down. "For Creator's sake, Naomi, use her body to your advantage. It is yours now. Yours to control!" Naomi bit her lips to fight off the tears that burned in her eyes. There was nothing she hated more than being embarrassed or scolded. "I... I...""How weak," Azriel spat. That singular sentence caused Naomi's eyes to darken with fury. "I am anything but weak." Immediately, she stretched her arm out to where her sword lay on the ground, and in a flash, it flew into her waiting hand. Suddenly, the weight became inconsequential as Naomi's eyes glowed an astonishing shade of violet. Azriel grinned at her transformation and bent his index finger twice, beckoning her to attack him. So she did. Her body spun and moved with a beauty that Azriel had only seen when watching Nerina herself but somehow, Naomi looked even better. Naomi snarled as she pressed attack after attack on Azriel who expertly evaded ever

"It has been four days and yet no fucking progress!" Naomi threw the papers in her hands down on the table, rose to her feet, and began to pace. Meriana blinked, confused. "Forgive me, Nerina but is there something you are looking for that I am not aware of?" Startled, Naomi halted her frustrated pacing. 'Shit, I forgot she was here,' she murmured to herself then put on a shaky smile. "N-no. I was just trying to look at some military strategies peculiar to the Volcarians and it is proving difficult to grasp," she lied smoothly while rearranging the papers and placing a military tome on top. "Oh," Meriana nodded. "I wish I could offer my assistance but I was never great at history or war politics." Naomi shook her head. "It is fine. I grew up learning much of politics, war, and diplomacy but the royal Volcarians' way of life has become something akin to a myth. I thought it would be good to implement some of their tactics in this war because—" "Because the rebels would never see

Naomi played with the rings on her fingers as she answered. "Can I come in? I need to talk to you."Tilting his head to the side, Azriel's eyes roamed the length of her body. For an instant, concern flickered in his violet eyes as he noticed how much weight she had lost but it was replaced with coldness, so fast that Naomi almost didn't catch it.He opened the door wider and moved to the side. A silent invitation."Thank you," Naomi said as she entered the room and turned to face him. Azriel merely shut the door, leaned against it then crossed his arms over his chest.'Okay, no sitting then,' she thought. "How are you?" she fumbled for an icebreaker, putting on a weak smile. Azriel chuckled softly then stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Is that what you came here for? Say what you want, Naomi. I have to meet up with Daegal for border patrol."'Border patrol? What's that about?' Naomi wondered but chose not to push Azriel's buttons by asking him. "Azriel, please. Please, forgive

"Nezetta? What in the world has she done now?" Naomi gasped as she snatched the paper from Daegal's grip and glanced through it, her eyes widening with each damning line she read.Slowly, she set the paper on the table and sat down amidst shuddering breaths.Azriel's gaze impatiently flickered from Daegal to Naomi. "Well, are you going to share this information with—"Before he could complete his question, the doors to the council chambers flew open and Chief Topher strolled in. Immediately, Naomi sat up straighter, putting on the strict, dignified pose of Nerina but carefully made sure to only look at him from the corners of her eyes so he wouldn't notice how much her eye color had changed."My deepest apologies, Emperor. I would have arrived sooner but there were matters in Drakova that I had to look into," Chief Topher said as he bowed before Daegal.Daegal nodded stiffly in response, his mind still reeling from the news he had just received.However, when Chief Topher made to occu