*Nemesia's POV*
The dawn broke and soldiers moved with purpose, strapping on armour, sharpening weapons, and exchanging grim looks. There was an air of anticipation, a heavy silence that spoke of the violence to come.
David was at the centre of it all, his presence a steadying force for his men. He moved among them, offering words of encouragement, his voice calm but filled with the authority of a leader who had seen countless battles. Watching him, I felt Athena stir within me with guilt. Despite everything, he was a good man—honourable, dedicated, and utterly unaware of the trap closing around him.
"Stay focused," I told Athena, my tone firm but understanding. "We can't afford to let emotions cloud your judgment now."
"I know but I suddenly remembered all those times when we got side by side. But don't worry. No one stands in our way Nemesia!" Athena sounded firm and sure.
I nodded to myself. This was war - not only our own, and in war, there were no easy choices. The plan was in motion, and I had to see it through, no matter the cost.
Evar approached me, his expression serious. "The men are ready. We've positioned them as planned, and the Bears are in place, waiting for the signal."
"Good," I replied, my voice steady despite the nerves, unsure if the plan would go smoothly. "Remember, we need to strike at the right moment. Timing is everything."
He nodded, but there was something in his eyes—an unspoken concern. "Are you sure about this, Nemesia? Everything? It won't be easy and it might be too much for you..."
I met his gaze, my resolve hardening. "I'm sure. We've come too far to turn back now... And my deal with the Queen stands."
With a curt nod and a small smile, Evar moved away, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The camp was a hive of activity, but around me, it felt as though time had slowed. I could see the faces of the soldiers—some were seasoned veterans, their expressions grim and resigned; others were younger, their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. They all believed in the cause, trusted in their leader, and I was about to shatter that trust. What scared me a bit was how I... felt numb... not caring about this.
Athena stirred restlessly in my mind. "It's almost time," she reminded me, her voice a steady presence in the chaos of my thoughts.
"It's almost time," I whispered, more to myself than to her. This was about more than just defeating David or securing the Bears as allies. This was about revenge, about justice for everything the Lycans had taken from me. And if David had to be a casualty in that quest, so be it.
As the sun climbed higher, the time for reflection was over. I steeled myself, pushing all doubts and regrets to the back of my mind. There was no room for hesitation, not now.
"Nemesia," Murphey's voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present. "We're ready."
I turned to face him, my expression hardening. "Then let's begin."
We gathered the team—Evar, Murphey, Alice, Tom, James, and little Rowan. Each of them was prepared, their faces set in determined lines except for the boy who kept close to Alice. My team knew the stakes, understood the risks, and despite the undercurrent of fear, they were ready. Even the other rebels we got with us for this mission, as they mingled with Jaguars and Lycans.
"Remember the plan," I began, my voice firm as I addressed them. "We stick to our roles, no deviations. Evar, you'll be the one to strike David. Make it look real, but don't kill him. Tom, once David is down, you get him out of there and to the monastery. Alice, James, you stay with the main force and ensure our team retreats safely. And Rowan…" I paused, kneeling down to his level, "you stay close to Alice, and don't do anything reckless. Understand?"
Rowan nodded, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination. "I'll be careful, Nemesia. I promise."
I offered him a small smile, though my heart ached at the thought of involving him in this. But there was no other choice—he needed to learn, needed to understand the harsh realities of the world we lived in.
With the final preparations made, we moved into position. The battlefield stretched out before us, a wide expanse of rugged terrain, dotted with trees and rocky outcrops. The Bears were hidden in the ridges, ready to strike once the signal was given. David's forces were positioned in a defensive line, with our team stationed on the western flank, just as we had planned.
I could see David from where I stood, his figure tall and imposing as he surveyed the battlefield. He looked every inch the leader his men believed him to be, and for a moment, I felt a pang of doubt. But I pushed it aside—there was no room for second-guessing now.
The signal came in the form of a single, sharp whistle—a sound that could easily be mistaken for the call of a bird. But to those who knew, it was the sign to begin.
The Bears surged forward from their hidden positions, their war cries echoing across the battlefield. David's forces responded immediately, their disciplined ranks moving to counter the attack. The clash of steel rang out, accompanied by the shouts and screams of battle.
Evar moved swiftly, his form a blur as he cut through the chaos, making his way toward David. I followed at a distance, my eyes never leaving the Prince. He was in the thick of the fight, his sword flashing as he met the Bears head-on, unaware of the danger that was creeping up behind him.
And then it happened.
Evar closed the distance in an instant - as no one would expect the attack from behind and from a teammate - his blade aimed at David's side. The Prince turned just in time, his eyes widening in shock as he recognized the attack. Evar's strike was swift, precise—a glancing blow that sent David reeling but didn't kill him. The wound was deep enough to incapacitate, but not fatal.
David stumbled, his sword slipping from his grasp as blood stained his armour. His men rallied around him, unaware of the true nature of the attack. Evar disappeared into the chaos, blending seamlessly with the retreating Bears.
Tom was already in position, moving quickly to reach David before anyone else could. He grabbed the Prince under the arms, pulling him to his feet as he shouted for help. "We need to get him out of here! The Bears have breached the lines!"
The soldiers around them scrambled to assist, their focus entirely on getting their wounded leader to safety. No one questioned Tom's actions as he led the group toward the extraction point—everything was going according to plan. Some of our rebels mingled with them, making sure to keep close to Tom.
Alice and James were coordinating the retreat, their voices carrying over the din of battle as they directed our forces to fall back. The Bears were pressing the attack, pushing David's men into a defensive retreat. It was chaos, just as we had planned.
As I moved through the battlefield, my sword cutting down any enemy that crossed my path, I kept one eye on Tom and David. They were almost to the extraction point, the road to the monastery just beyond the treeline. I knew the women from the monastery would be waiting for the wounded warriors... and ready to take the wounded Prince into their care.
But then, something went wrong.
A group of Lycans, who had broken away from the main force, spotted the retreating group. Their leader, a grizzled veteran with a scarred face, barked an order, and the Lycans surged forward, intent on intercepting them. Seems he saw it strange that we were retreating so quietly and with Davin...
I cursed under my breath, knowing that we couldn't afford to be discovered. If the Lycans realized that we were taking David to the monastery, the entire plan would fall apart.
Without hesitation, I broke away from the fight and sprinted toward the Lycans. They hadn't noticed me yet, their focus entirely on Tom and the wounded Prince. I reached them just as they were about to strike, my sword slashing through the air with deadly precision.
The first Lycan went down with a gurgled cry, his throat sliced open. The others turned, their eyes widening in surprise as they realized who was attacking them.
"Nemesia?" one of them gasped, but there was no time for recognition. I was already moving, my blade cutting through flesh and bone with cold efficiency. They were strong, but they weren't expecting me, and that gave me the advantage.
I cut through them quickly, my movements a blur of deadly intent. Blood splattered across the ground as the Lycans fell one by one, their bodies crumpling to the dirt. I didn't stop until the last of them was down, my chest heaving with exertion.
But there was no time to rest. I glanced over my shoulder to see Tom and David disappearing into the treeline, someone guiding them to the safety of the monastery.
The plan was still intact.
I wiped the blood from my blade, my heart pounding in my chest. The battle was far from over, but the most critical part of our mission had succeeded. David was out of the fight, and the Lycans were none the wiser.
As I turned back to see the fight, I caught sight of Evar, his eyes locking onto mine across the battlefield. There was a question in his gaze, a silent inquiry that I couldn't quite read.
I gave him a nod, a silent affirmation that everything was going according to plan. He returned the nod, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips before he disappeared into the treeline, just as I also backed away slowly.