Day three dawned with false calm.
All evacuations are complete. Every outer settlement was empty, their populations safely—or at least forcibly—relocated within the Black River's walls.
The fortifications were seventy percent complete. Not perfect, but defensible.
Our forces were consolidated. Four hundred thirty-seven wolves, plus Lydia's fifty reinforcements who'd arrived the night before.
We were as ready as we were going to be.
Which wasn't saying much.
I stood on the eastern wall at dawn, watching the empty landscape beyond our borders. Somewhere out there, Seraphine was preparing. Gathering her forces. Planning her attack.
We had one day left before her deadline.
One day to wait and wonder if we'd done enough.
“Couldn't sleep either?” Erica's voice came from behind me.
I tu
