Chapter 40 — The Call to War
The loyalist citadel thrummed with the low growl of war.
Torches sputtered along obsidian walls as demons sharpened blades, harnessed hellhounds, and checked rune-etched armor. The air reeked of sulfur, oiled steel, and the sharp undercurrent of fear. In the volcanic valley below, rivers of lava painted the sky in bloody reds and oranges.
Cairis stood on the highest balcony overlooking the assembly grounds, a towering figure of raw power. His horns caught the firelight like crowns of shadow. Beside him, Liora felt the soul bond pulse steadily — a living thing between them now, warm and possessive.
He turned to her, crimson eyes burning. "Once I speak, there is no retreat. My brothers will come with everything they have. The Church will follow with their holy legions and purification rites. Blood will soak these lands."
