Seraphina stalked through the blasted ruins, her jaw clenched and piercing eyes sweeping the desolation. Scattered among the rubble were the bodies of those unable to seek shelter—noble wolves cut down in the first blinding onslaught before they could even rouse a defense.

A tremor of impotent rage lanced through her at each fallen form, each innocent life snuffed out in Lucian's petulant pursuit of dominance. These sights would be etched into her memories for all time...yet another debt of blood to be repaid upon that twisted bastard's hide.

At the edge of the central clearing, her warriors had already begun erecting hasty fortifications—ranks of battle-scorched logs and earthworks bristling...