The packhouse had been cleared.
Bodies removed. Blood scrubbed from the floors. The shattered windows were boarded over with fresh timber that still smelled of pine and earth magic. The great hall where Seraphine had nearly torn them apart now stood empty except for the leadership gathered in a tight circle—alphas, sentinels, vampires, and those who'd fought on the front lines.
Celeste stood beside Reign, her hand still tingling with residual power. She could feel the earth beneath the foundation, settling back into its natural rhythms after the violence she'd asked it to commit. Beside her, Talia and Sera looked exhausted but resolute. Talia's talisman dim now that the portal had closed.
Luca stood at the center of the circle, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable. When he spoke,
