SAGE

The night pressed close, quiet in that eerie, fragile way only fear can create. People had turned in early again. They hadn't left their lives to chance, or information, which was accurate really—vampires couldn't come in unless invited.

Even with the magic dome holding strong over this part of the lycans' region, the air throbbed with the kind of silence that comes from shared dread. Doors bolted. Curtains drawn. Fires put out early.

The vampires had made sure the entire kingdom slept like prey. Had made sure that rumors of their prowess had gone ahead of them.

It was all according to the plan. Make the kingdom quake in...