Chapter 54: Torn Loyalties

Lyra's POV

The war room is a cacophony of raised voices and frantic energy. Maps and strategic plans litter every surface, and the air is thick with tension. I stand at the center of it all, my head pounding as I try to make sense of the chaos.

"The eastern border is under attack!" A scout bursts in, his face pale with fear. "They've breached our first line of defense!"

Xander slams his fist on the table, his eyes blazing. "How? We just reinforced those wards yesterday!"

I close my eyes, reaching out with my magical senses. The truth hits me like a physical blow. "It's Elara," I whisper, my voice barely audible above the din. "She's using her knowledge of our defenses against us."

The room falls silent, the weight of this betrayal settling over us like a shroud. Xander's gaze locks with mine, a storm of emotions swirling in their depths. "We need to split up," he says, his voice tight with suppressed feeling. "Aurora, you take a team to the southern border. I'll handle the east."

My h