The tension that persisted among us as we gathered after Valen's betrayal was heavy with the consequences of betrayal. Even while our troops were healing from wounds and bolstering our defenses as best they could, we had just managed to repel Alec's forces. My shoulders were heavy with exhaustion, but I had nowhere to relax. Especially because Alec was still waiting for his next blow.
Lucien stepped close by, his expression determined and worried. He hadn't spoken much since the war, and I felt shivers running down my spine from the calm anger in his voice. I was aware that he was blaming himself, questioning if he had miscalculated Valen's devotion or whether he might have predicted this. However, I was aware. Valen's scheme to attack us when we were most vulnerable had been meticulously concealed.
