Chapter 78 The Siege Begins

• The wind howled through the trees as we approached the border outpost, the air thick with anticipation. My heart drummed in my chest, the tension between us almost unbearable. We were finally making our move, testing the defenses of the kingdom, and everything hinged on what would happen next. I had spent years preparing for this moment—assembling forces, gaining alliances, making sure that the power I was amassing wouldn’t falter. But the truth was, no matter how much planning I had done, the outcome of this assault was still uncertain. Every victory would bring us closer to the throne, but it would also draw blood, and I wasn’t blind to that.
• “Ready?” Blue’s voice cut through the silence like a blade, and I turned to find him beside me, his eyes locked on the outpost in the distance.
• I nodded, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders. “As ready as we’ll ever be.”