Chapter 272

Sienna

The air changed before the first scream.

And for a moment it was as if the whole world was telling us to be ready for what was to come. Those as if they were all taking a breath or holding it, readying themselves.

I felt it in my chest, tight, heavy, as though the world itself was holding its breath. Everything and everyone was ready for what was to come, but they also were not.

The wind stilled outside the war hall, and even the torches lining the path flickered like they knew something was coming.

Nothing could be ready for this coming, for the darkness that she carried around her, for the aura that she had roaming about. The fear that she was inflicting.

But we had to be. No matter what happened, we have to be ready because we had no other option. This was our family, this was what we knew, this was our peace and we were not going to let it go for her.

I stood at the center of the hall, the scent of ash and fear clinging to