Chapter 13 · The Fresh Signature

"Sheath it." The commander's horse slammed into the ring, spraying grit over Ryan's boots. Steel was already out, but the commander kept looking from Ryan's hand to Victor's throat, like he still hadn't picked which man he meant to threaten.

Ryan held Victor's blade flat against the side of his neck. "He opened my ribs first. I get to finish the sentence."

"You get to finish nothing." The commander's voice cracked across the square. "This is a duel claim, not an execution. Drop it, or I arrest you both and let the Crown decide who bleeds out in a cell first."

Victor's jaw flexed against the steel. Sweat cut through the dirt on his face, but his mouth still curled. "Touch me again," he murmured for Ryan alone, "and it stops being a duel. It's murder. Not even your father's name buys you out of that."

Ryan's arm shook. Blood slid warm down his stomach and soaked into his belt. Four more seconds. He didn't have them.

"Ashe." Matthias caught his wrist from behind. His grip was hard, his breath rough against Ryan's ear. "Let it go. Every witness who matters saw you win.