KAIDEN'S POV
The palace still smells of smoke. Even after the fires are out and the wounded have been taken away, every hallway was still hot.
Everything in the palace was destroyed. I walked the halls to inspect everything.
Even while I was bothered about what happened, something hot twists behind my ribs. I can't get the thought of Lucian and Layla out of my mind.
I watched Lucian lift her from the rubble. I saw him hold her like she might break at any moment. He studied her face with rough, careful hands. That picture sits in my chest and won't move. It makes me see red.
I force myself to breathe.
A guard rushes past "My lord, there are reports from the northern wall, sir. They've found a breach near the stables. We've set up a secondary barricade—"
He stumbles over his words. I cut him off with one command. "Tell Captain Hargreaves to fortify the eastern gate. Two extra men on each tower. And check the patrol rotations. There must be no gaps." \
