The chamber stank of iron and blood. Damian sat propped against velvet cushions, his shirt torn open where the bandages pressed against his side. Every breath was a blade. Every movement dragged fire through his ribs.
But the ache in his flesh was nothing compared to the storm inside him.
Through the narrow slit of the carved screen, he had heard it all—the accusations, the lies, Adriana’s desperate defense, and the crushing weight of her father’s verdict.
“Traitor.”
The word echoed in his skull like a curse.
And now, she was in chains.
---
He tried to stand, gripping the bedpost, but pain seared his vision white. His guard—Luca, his most trusted man—moved quickly to steady him.
“Sit down, boss. You’re bleeding again.”
“Let me bleed,” Damian snarled, his voice hoarse. His wolf cla
