Chapter 211

Harper’s POV

War changes everything. Everywhere seems different ever since the grand council meeting took place. Warriors train longer. Scouts come in with new reports every hour.

But even in all that darkness, somehow… Lucas finds the light. And I find it with him.

We’ve been spending every moment we can steal together. It’s never enough, but it keeps me sane. We talk about everything,our future, our fears, what we’ll do when the war ends, whether it will even end. He listens when I ramble. I listen when he finally lets down that strong front he shows everyone else.

Tonight, the sky is clear and full of stars. We’re sitting on a small rise overlooking the training fields, far away enough that no one can bother us. Lucas sits behind me, his arms wrapped around my waist, his chin resting gently on my shoulder. I could stay here forever.

“Harper,” he murmurs softly, “do you ever think about… after?”

I smile. “After what? The war, or after y