Chapter 73: The Siege
The air was electric with anticipation as Alex stood at the edge of the ridge, her cloak billowing behind her. The wind carried the scent of battle—smoke, metal, and the unmistakable tang of fear. Below, her brother's stronghold loomed like a monstrous sentinel, its blackened spires cutting through the dawn like jagged teeth. The ground beneath her feet trembled as her army prepared for the onslaught.
The sight of the fortress stirred something deep within Alex—a mix of fury and trepidation. For weeks, she had worked to unite these factions, convincing former enemies to fight under one banner. Now, standing here, she felt the weight of every life that had followed her into the fray.
Ethan stepped up beside her, his face drawn and pale but determined. His armor, though dented and scratched from the last battle, gleamed faintly in the dim light. He had insisted on joining her despite his injuries, and she had been too exhausted to argue.
