Chapter 52: Aftermath and Accusations

POV: Talon

Dawn broke over Fort Velmoor like a judgment, cold and merciless. The gray light revealed what the darkness had hidden. Scorched walls. Broken gates. Bodies covered in blood-soaked sheets lined up in the courtyard like accusations.

Fourteen dead. Twenty-three wounded. And one secret barely contained. I stood in the mess hall, swaying on my feet. My muscles screamed. Blood had dried in stiff patches on my uniform. Around me, other survivors looked just as wrecked. We'd been fighting for hours, beating back wave after wave of Magnus's wolves until they'd finally retreated into the forest.

But we all knew they'd be back.

"All combat-capable personnel to the war room. Now." Captain Brannor's voice cut through the exhausted silence.

I grabbed a cup of water and downed it, trying to wash away the taste of smoke and death. My eyes found Seth across the room. He looked like a corpse propped upright. His face was gray beneath the dirt and blood. His hands trembled as he tried to drink from his own cup.

Kieran stood next to him, closer than usual. Something had shifted between them during the battle. I'd seen it in the way Kieran had thrown himself across the courtyard when Seth was surrounded. In the way he'd positioned himself between Seth and danger ever since.

He knew. Or at least suspected. Seth's eyes met mine for a brief moment. The fear in them made my chest tight. She was breaking apart, piece by piece. And when she finally shattered, Magnus would be there to collect the fragments.

"Move out," a sergeant barked. "Captain's waiting."

We filed into the war room like condemned prisoners. The space felt smaller than before, packed with soldiers and officers. Maps covered every surface, marked with red X's showing where Magnus's forces had struck. The pattern was unmistakable now. They were tightening a noose around the fort.

Around Seth.

Brannor stood at the head of the table, his face carved from stone. Gray stubble covered his jaw. His eyes were bloodshot but sharp. "Damage report. Lieutenant Carrick."

A tall officer stepped forward. "Eastern wall breached in three places. North tower badly damaged by fire. Main gate hinges compromised. We can repair most of it, but it'll take weeks. Weeks we don't have."

"Casualties?"

"Fourteen dead. Twenty-three wounded, six critically." Carrick's voice was flat, professional. But I saw his hands clench. "Half the dead were experienced veterans. They knew where to hit us."

Murmurs rippled through the room. Angry. Scared.

"That level of coordination..." another officer began. "They knew our patrol routes. Our weak points. The rotation schedule for sentries."

"Exactly." A grizzled sergeant spoke up, his scarred face twisted with fury. "Someone inside gave them information. They didn't just attack. They executed a plan. Our plan. Our defenses turned against us."

The murmurs grew louder. Soldiers shifted, looking at each other with suspicion.

"We need to investigate everyone," the sergeant continued. "Root out the traitor before they can do more damage."

"Agreed," Carrick said. "Starting with those newest to the fort. Those who haven't proven their loyalty yet."

The words hung in the air like poison gas. Slowly, deliberately, eyes turned toward the cadets.

Toward us. I felt Seth tense beside me. Aelis's breath caught. Even Kieran's protective stance couldn't shield us from the weight of all those stares.

"The cadets," someone muttered. "They arrived right before the attacks started."

"Convenient timing."

"One of them could have been planted. A spy."

My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. This was exactly what I'd feared. They were going to tear Seth apart looking for answers. They'd strip away every secret, every defense. And when they found what she was hiding, Magnus would win without lifting a claw.

I stepped forward. The movement drew every eye in the room.

"The cadets fought harder than most veterans last night." My voice came out steady despite the exhaustion weighing on me. "We bled for this fort. Three of our number are in the infirmary right now because they stood on those walls and refused to break."

Silence. Brannor's eyes fixed on me, measuring.

"Seth killed four wolves by himself," I continued, gesturing toward where he stood pale and shaking. "Kieran rallied the eastern defense when your veterans were falling back. Aelis dragged two wounded soldiers out of a burning building. We're not your enemy."

"Pretty speech," the sergeant growled. "Doesn't change facts. Someone talked. Someone told Magnus where to strike."

"Then investigate," I shot back. "But start with people who had access to strategic information. Officers. Senior soldiers. Not cadets who barely know which end of the fort is which."

Brannor raised a hand for silence. "Lieutenant Talon makes a valid point. The cadets have proven themselves in combat." He paused, his gaze sweeping the room. "But we still need answers. I want a full investigation. Everyone's movements, conversations, correspondence. If there's a traitor, we'll find them."

The tension in the room shifted slightly. Not gone, but redirected. For now.

I glanced at Seth. He was still pale, but some of the terror had faded from his eyes. Kieran caught my gaze and gave a small nod. Gratitude? Understanding? Hard to tell.

"We have three days," Brannor continued. "That black wolf made Magnus's intentions clear. When the full moon rises, they'll come for what they want. We need to be ready."

"What could Magnus possibly want here?" Carrick asked. "We're a border fort. No strategic value beyond holding the pass."

"Maybe it's not about the fort," another officer suggested. "Maybe it's about someone in it."

The words fell like stones in still water, sending ripples of realization through the room. Eyes began to drift back toward the cadets. Toward Seth specifically.

My hand moved to my sword hilt. If they pushed this, if they cornered him...

The door burst open with a bang that made everyone jump. A scout stumbled in, breathing hard. His uniform was torn, blood streaking his face.

"Sir!" He nearly collapsed against the doorframe. "Messenger from Magnus Blackclaw. He's requesting parley."

The room erupted. Voices overlapped, sharp with disbelief and anger.

"Parley? After attacking us?"

"It's a trick."

"We should shoot him on sight."

"Quiet!" Brannor's roar cut through the chaos. He turned to the scout. "What exactly did this messenger say?"

The scout swallowed hard. "He says Magnus Blackclaw has information about the traitor. About who's been feeding him intelligence." He paused, fear flickering across his face. "And he'll only share it in person."

The silence that followed was absolute. I could hear my own heartbeat, loud as war drums.

"In person," Brannor repeated slowly. "He wants to come here."

"It's a trap," Carrick said immediately. "He'll bring an army."

"No." The scout shook his head. "The messenger was very specific. Magnus Blackclaw will come alone, under flag of truce. Tomorrow at noon. He says he has proof of who betrayed us." The scout's eyes found Seth across the room, and something in his expression made my blood run cold. "An

d he says the traitor is someone we'd never suspect."