Chapter 56

• The tension within the stronghold was already palpable when a scout burst into the war room, his breathing heavy and his face pale. Amara, Xander, and Asher turned toward him as he stumbled forward, clutching a scroll in his trembling hands.
• “It’s Rita,” the scout managed between breaths. “She’s resurfaced.”
• Amara’s blood ran cold at the name. She had anticipated Rita’s return, knowing that the woman’s thirst for power and vengeance wouldn’t keep her in the shadows for long. But hearing it confirmed stirred a mix of anger and unease within her.