Proving Himself

(Chapter 105:Lorenzo's POV)

The air inside the fortress was thick with the scent of blood and magic—an ancient, unyielding power that made my fangs ache. Stone walls stretched high around us, etched with the marks of centuries-old battles. This place was not built for mercy. It was built for blood.

I felt Mira tense beside me, her fingers curling into fists. She had been silent since we arrived—too silent. I knew her anger simmered beneath the surface, a storm waiting to break.

"Stay close," I murmured. "No matter what happens."

Her jaw tightened. "I'm not leaving you alone in this."

I wanted to promise her it would be quick, that I would handle whatever Marcellus and his council threw my way—but promises in the Blood Rite meant nothing. Here, I was not a lord. I was a challenger. And challengers bled.