Chapter 37

Aurelia POV

The high vaulted ceilings of the main hall on the first floor echoed with the low, ominous murmur of heavily armored men. The air was thick with the scent of pine resin, damp wool, and the bitter edge of iron as twenty senior captains of the Ironbound vanguard stood in a tight semicircle around the stone hearth.

Commander Bastian stood atop the raised dais beside Kellan, his hand resting heavily on the pommel of his broadsword. “Look at the border ledgers,” Bastian bellowed, his voice reverberating off the stone pillars with ruthless conviction. “Three miles pulled back from the river. Our warriors are ordered to stand down while Redmoon harvests the valley under our noses. Draven has abandoned the memory of his sister Elowen. He kneels to Cassian because his mind has been completely destroyed by a mate bond with a Redmoon captive. An Alpha who surrenders victory for a girl is unfit to lead the Ironbound.”

Nodding murmured agreements broke out am