Chapter 42 Blood On The Snow

• The snow was still falling when the first arrow pierced the silence.
• Lena stood at the edge of the battlefield, her breath fogging the air. Her hands were clenched at her sides, knuckles white through her gloves. Behind her, hundreds of wolves stood in tight formation—warriors from fallen packs, rogues who had pledged loyalty, and allies gathered under her banner. Kieran stood at her side, his black armor slick with frost. The mountains loomed behind them, the open field ahead marked with twisted trees and drifting snow.
• The battlefield was eerily quiet, but Lena could feel the tension, coiled like a predator in the dark. She could sense the presence of Lycus before she saw him. His magic left a residue in the air, like rot and ash. It twisted her stomach.