The war had been building for months. General Titan’s forces—merciless, unrelenting—had pushed deep into the sacred lands of the Western Forests, scorching earth and slaughtering innocents with every step. My people, the last defenders of the Verdant Realm, had fought back with everything we had, but it wasn’t enough. Not against the might of a tyrant who once ruled these lands through fear and blood. Talon had warned us he would return. That Titan’s thirst for control would not die with exile. But none of us truly believed it—until the smoke choked our skies and the screams of the dying filled the trees. Now, our final stand burned around us, and I was about to be taken—again.

Ezra and General Titan clashed with equal skill, firelight flickering off their blades. Smoke thickened the air. Titan found an opening and slammed his hilt into Ezra’s skull—he fell hard. “No!” I ran forward and knocked Titan over, but he kicked me down, slammed my head against the ground, and disarmed me. Dizzy, I grabbed his dagger and stabbed his leg. He roared, turned on me. Ezra stirred, trying to rise, blood dripping from his head. Titan aimed to finish him.

“Stop! I’ll go with you,” I cried. “Just leave him.” Titan’s twisted grin returned. “Then get up.” Queen Eldinar appeared through the smoke and dropped to Ezra’s side. I stood—and Titan grabbed my throat. “Save him,” I begged her. Titan dragged me from the forest, through chaos, bodies, and fire. Once clear, he kicked me down and began stripping off my armor. “That arrogant bastard thought he could keep you?” He tore at my clothes, hit me hard, and I couldn’t stop him. “You think I won’t take you right here?”

I cried, helpless, praying for death. “Kill me!” I tried to grab his dagger to end my life, but he twisted my arm, shoved me again. “Don’t act like you don’t miss me.” I lay still as he undid his armor—until—

Rooooaaaaar! The sky shook. A massive black dragon soared above. We are here, Pretty.

Titan grabbed his blade, his smirk gone. The dragon landed with a quake, smoke swirling, and through the haze came Talon, cape billowing, sword drawn, face carved with fury. He looked ready to burn the world.

I crawled toward him—but Titan pressed his blade to my neck. “Take another step and she dies.” Talon’s eyes blazed. Hold on, he said. A heartbeat later, Titan screamed and staggered back. Run to Khazmuda. I obeyed.

The army of the dead rose, surrounding the two men. Talon circled Titan like a predator. Then he struck. His blade moved so fast I couldn’t follow. Titan could only block. He was driven back, weakened, terrified. Talon shattered his sword, leaving Titan only a dagger. Talon matched him—blade for blade—and then ended it.

He grabbed Titan’s hair and rammed his dagger into his mouth. Titan dropped, gagging on blood. Talon walked away. The dead closed in, stabbing Titan over and over until he vanished beneath them.

Talon came to me. I was on my knees, sobbing. He took off his cape, wrapped it around me, then pulled me into his chest. “It’s okay, baby,” he whispered. I broke down, safe at last in his arms.