LUCIAN POV
Dawn broke with blood on the wind.
I felt them coming before the sentries sounded the alarm—felt him coming through the bond like ice spreading through my veins. Lior was close. Leading the attack just like he'd warned me through our connection last night.
Leading an army to capture or kill me.
"Lucian!" Ronan's roar cut through the dawn. "Eastern defenses! Move!"
I shifted mid-run, my wolf surging forward in a burst of gold light. Around me, Direwolves poured from the den—massive shadows with glowing eyes, all fangs and fury as we raced toward the breach point.
The vampires hit us like a winter storm.
Three hundred of them, just like the scouts had reported. They moved with inhuman speed, blades flashing silver in the pale light, red eyes burning as they tore into our defensive line. The clash of steel and claw filled the mountain pass, blood steaming on snow.
