Chapter 13
The castle walls echoed with the clinking of armor and the sound of soldiers sharpening their weapons. We were on the brink of war, and every moment counted. The King vampire, who had become a trusted ally and friend, stood beside me as we oversaw the preparations. The weight of the impending battle bore down on me, but I couldn't allow fear to consume me. Not when Maeve's life hung in the balance.
I stepped forward, my voice steady but filled with determination. "Listen, my fellow soldiers, my brethren. We stand on the precipice of a great battle, a battle we did not choose, but one we must fight. For the woman I love, for our kingdom, and for our very survival."
The soldiers, both vampires and humans alike, gathered before me, their eyes filled with a mix of determination and worry. They knew the stakes were high, and the enemy was powerful.