#Chapter 48: Bravery

Logan Jesse’s eyes had locked with mine, and I knew that this was it. The moment we’d both been circling our entire lives. From childhood to adulthood, we had been progressively building toward this moment. As we took up our fighting stances, it was blood against blood, bastard against heir, brother against brother. There was no court, no council, no duel to regulate us. No one to oversee our duel. It was just raw rage and unfinished business. I braced myself, claws extending. Years had passed and fortified me. I was ready. His howl ripped through the chaos before he snarled and launched forward, all claws, bared teeth, and fury. I could already feel the weight of his body slamming into mine, already planned how I’d drive him back with one brutal countermove. My mind was racing, creating tactics for every scenario. All except for one. Evelyn lunged from out of nowhere, eclipsing my vision and attention. She was a flash of movement, a streak of defiance that cut throug