Despite Daniel’s arguments against it, Darius had ensured Valessa a pivotal role in their attack. The Blood Tower, even with its skeleton crew, could still easily hold off the hundred or so men allied together under Daniel’s rule. They had no siege weapons, no catapults to bust gaps in the surrounding walls, no ram to batter down the gates. What they did have, though, was a woman who could walk through walls and ignore the strikes of any blade. “Why not let her kill every last one of them?” Daniel had asked when first hearing the plan. “Because of Lilah. That lioness is powerful, and wields the fires of the Abyss. If anything can destroy Valessa, it’s her. Get me inside, and surround me with men, and we’ll find victory.” Strong words, Darius knew, even though deep down he was terrified of facing another of those lions. He’d been drunk on battle the last time, every hair on his body tingling with electricity.
