The sight of the man, brutally beaten, sent a wave of nausea through Francine's stomach. Sensing her discomfort, Jacob instinctively pulled her into his side, offering a comforting and protective embrace.
"Why are you here?" Jacob's voice echoed sharply across the group of people, his displeasure palpable. Francine shared his sentiment; she was far from pleased herself.
"I thought I'd bring you a gift. I understand this warlock placed a ward in your pack house that resulted in my daughter being injured," Ceres, her father, announced with a smug expression, pushing the captured man towards Jacob.
"Ceres, we meet again," Jacob responded, his voice laced with bitterness. His eyes darted between Ceres and Francine, assessing her reaction. This was the first time Francine had seen her father
