Chapter 246

We stood on Noxgarth's walls three days after Zane's exile, Vespera and I, watching the sun set over territory that had been through too much chaos in too short a time. The battle hadn't happened, Zane's army had disbanded peacefully, and somehow we'd ended up here having a conversation I'd been avoiding since she first offered to help.

"I want to stay," Vespera said quietly. "Serve in whatever ca