Lawrence’s POVDawn mist drifted in ragged clouds through the slits of the main war pavilion. The air reeked of damp pine, old leather, and the suffocating, held breath of fifty Clan Lords—so thick it was hard to breathe.In the center, the fire pit carved into basalt barely chased away the cold seeping up from the coast. I wore no armor, no gala cloak—only combat trousers, my chest bare, every scar earned on the border laid bare for all to see. The Imperial Sword stood driven into the earth three paces before me, cold and untouched.To my right, upon a raised dais draped in arctic wolf furs, Maya presided. There was no hint of weakness in her bearing. Her emerald velvet gown fell in regal folds over her curves, and the gold‑and‑silver crown rested heavy upon her dark hair. In her lap, the twins sat perfectly still, watching the sea of sullen faces with a quiet gravity no one‑year‑old should possess.Before us, the Council of Alfas stood in a tight semicircle.At the front stood Boran
Last Updated : 2026-08-19 Read more