The study erupted into brutal, close-quarters combat, Damaris's hired men clashing violently with Kane's household guard in a chaos of steel and shouted commands that filled the small room with deafening noise. Wren pressed herself back against the wall, the wrapped artifact clutched tight against her chest, watching Garrick and Caspian both move to intercept anyone who came too close to her position.
Kane met his father's lunge directly, their blades meeting with a force that sent a shudder through both their arms, and Wren watched with horrified fascination as father and son finally, fully engaged in the physical confrontation their entire relationship had been building toward since the moment Damaris first walked back into this story.
"You could have simply let this go," Kane said, pa
