Chapter 103: Blackmere’s Reckoning

The dawn light filtered through the frost-covered windows of Blackmere's great hall. Damien sat at the head of the long table, the shadows under his steel-gray eyes betraying the restless nights that had become his norm. The weight of Rellen's conspiracy and Fenwick's betrayal loomed over him.

Amara leaned against the far wall, her sharp blue eyes watching him closely. "You're quieter than usual this morning. Brooding doesn't suit you, Damien."

Damien allowed himself a faint smirk, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm not brooding, Amara. I'm thinking."

"About how to bring Fenwick down or how to stop an invasion?" she asked.

"Both," Damien replied, his steel-gray gaze hardening. "If we don't act swiftly, Fenwick's betrayal could unravel everything we've worked for. And if Rellen's forces cross the border, Blackmere will be the first to fall."

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