The Devil's Son and His Fated Bride

Siamon nodded grimly. "The giant has slaughtered so many of our soldiers. But if we can bring him down, the rest of the vampires will fall like dust. Acelieth is afraid of Sunkiath. He didn’t dare set foot on the battlefield. Victor is still hiding on Witch Island. That leaves just four Lords. If we take down the giant... their army will fracture."

Ren gave a bitter smile. It was not hope, it was calculation, cold and careful.

"It won’t be easy," she said. "Our hidden battalions already struck several of their strongholds, the places where the Lords were gathering forces. But all they found were stragglers. Wandering pests. They knew we were coming. They’re always one step ahead."

Siamon was silent for a beat, then nodded. He was relieved, in a way. She was seeing the truth now, not through the haze of reckless sacrifice, but with clear, protective fire. This winter would stretch long and be cruel. Even scattered vampires would crawl from their holes to hunt, to mutate into human form. And even if one Lord fell, the others would not follow easily.

"You’re right," Siamon agreed. "The new mutated vampires, they blend in like ordinary people. Only the wolves can sense them among the shifters. We need magic. A spell strong enough to draw them all out."

Ren bobbed her head slowly. "I hate to admit it... but Sigaros is right. The vampires may lose their Lords, but they still cling to the sorcerers. If the Witch Island succeeds in creating an army that can walk beneath the sun..."

Even voicing the possibility sent a sliver of cold down her spine, sharp and metallic, like silver on skin.

"What do you suggest?" Siamon asked carefully.

Ren inhaled deeply, her gaze sharpening. "We need time. We need a distraction. I’ll call a summit in the Ice Land, a council meeting with the remaining Lords and sorcerers. They will come for me. While they gather, I’ll kill who I can... and imprison the sorceress."

Siamon flinched. "Do we even have the strength for that?"

Ren lifted her chin. "Trust me. Help will come when it’s needed. My uncle, Lucieth, is already on his way. We need the Lords and the High Sorcerers in one place. We end it there."