The day of the duel dawned grey and suffocating.
A thick mist clung to the grounds of the Pack House, obscuring the tree line. It felt like the world was holding its breath, waiting for blood to spill.
The bad news arrived with the morning coffee.
Thomas Reed, the Regulator, called Liam at 6:00 AM. I watched from the doorway of the study as Liam listened, his face hardening into a mask of pure fury.
"He did what?" Liam snarled into the phone. "That was not the agreement."
He listened for a moment longer, his hand gripping the edge of his desk until the wood groaned. "Fine. Let them come. It just means more witnesses to his death."
He hung up and hurled the phone across the room. It shattered against the wall.
"Liam?" I stepped inside.
He looked up, his eyes flashing gold. "Sebastia
