Chapter 31: James

I tear through another blood sucker’s throat as my wolf is slammed to the floor. A dark elf smiles from the doorway, his purple eyes gleaming, bony fingers extended toward me. I feel my joints stretch as his spell threatens to rip me apart.

This is it. This is how I die. I accept it. I can finally be with my sweet Amalea. I close my eyes, giving myself over to his power, and whisper thanks to the moon goddess—and then the pressure is gone. I open my eyes to see one of my fellow warriors eating the dark elf’s entrails.

I lurch forward off the ground sinking my teeth into the nearest enemy I can find, before looking for more. Another day. Another battle. We’ve spent nearly a year trying to reclaim Cold Bay, but every time we push them back, they redouble their efforts.

At this rate, we’ll never leave this goddess-forsaken frozen wasteland, unless it’s on a funeral pyre. Not that I care. Suicide by sacrifice. That’s what Marcus said when I left. I thought he’d command me to stay at first