Outside, the snow was no longer white.
It was trampled into mud and blood.
The attack had weakened, but it had not fully ended. The enemies were still fighting in groups, pushing where they could, trying to break the defense before the defenders' new strength from Isabella's survival could fully settle. Kian was still chained down in his lion form near the side of the battlefield, roaring and fighting the restraints with blood covering his fur. Osiris and several others were still trying to keep the chains tight.
Zyran stopped at the edge of the field.
His red eyes moved over everything.
Dead bodies. Torn limbs. Injured villagers. Attackers still trying to crawl toward the inner wall. Guards bleeding but refusing to fall. Osiris with his arms strained from holding one chain. Asael near Kian, trying to keep people away from the raging lion. The mountain ridge beast sleeping near the palace entrance, taking up half the space like a fallen hill.
Zyran frowned slightly.
