Mary Ann’s POV
By sunrise, the entire Ironclaw territory seemed to be holding its breath.
The Unity Festival grounds had been rebuilt, inspected three times, and surrounded by more guards than I had originally approved. Modric insisted the additional security was necessary after the sabotage. I argued that the soldiers would make the celebration feel like a war council.
We compromised.
The guards remained, but they wore festival cloaks instead of armor.
Despite the danger, I refused to cancel.
Whoever had weakened the platform wanted fear. They wanted Mooncrest and Ironclaw to distrust each other before the alliance had a chance to become real. Cancelling the festival would give them exactly what they wanted.
I would not allow it.
Greta stood behind me in the Luna Wing, fastening t
