The raw humiliation of surrendering four generations of ancestral property suddenly ignited the fading embers of Julian’s pride, twisting his blistered face into an expression of murderous desperation.
He did not take the offered stylus from Darren’s hand, nor did he allow his fingers to touch the corner of the transfer parchment. Instead, Julian drove his knees hard against the red gravel, kicking off the volcanic rock with a wild, frenzied surge of his remaining spiritual energy that bypassed all reasoned thought. His right hand plunged beneath his frayed cloak, whipping out a narrow iron stiletto that gleamed with cold malice, aimed directly at Caleb Conway’s exposed throat in a reckless attempt to sever the young auditor's life before the shields could react.
He was less than four fe
