Colt Knightwood''s face went pale as death. His eyes darted between the advancing figures, calcting his chances.


    "This isn''t over," he snarled, backing away step by step.


    He made a sharp gesture to his men. In a blur of movement, they shot up into the trees and disappeared into the night.


    I could have pursued them. Part of me wanted to—the rage over Caspian''s death still burned hot in my veins. But my body had reached its limit. The effort of the resurrection ritual had drained mepletely.


    "Let them go," I said, slipping the Divine Rank pill back into my robe. "I''ll find him again."


    Conrad looked at me with concern. "Master Knight, are you sure? He''ll report back to Corbin immediately."


    "Good," I replied, my voice cold. "Let Corbin know I''ming for him too."


    Michael watched this exchange carefully, studying my face. "You''ve changed significantly from the stories I heard about you," he said. "The timid son-inw is nowhere to be seen."


    I met his gaze. "That man died the day your son threw him out like trash."


    Around us, the crowd that had gathered for the resurrection ritual began to disperse, whispering excitedly among themselves. Word of what happened here tonight would spread throughout the martial world by morning.


    I turned to address them. "Thank you all for witnessing this historic moment. The Celestial Apothecary Guild will remember those who stood with us tonight."


    After they left, only Michael, Conrad, and I remained in the clearing. My legs finally gave outpletely, and I sank to the ground, blood seeping through my robes.


    "We need to get you medical attention," Conrad said urgently.


    Michael knelt beside me. "Not just yet. I need answers first." His eyes bore into mine. "My granddaughter. Where is Isabelle?"


    The mention of her name sent a fresh wave of pain through me that had nothing to do with my physical wounds.


    "She''s in Veridia City," I said grimly. "Under Corbin''s control. He''s nning to force her to marry Dashiell ckthorne of the ckthorne family."


    Michael''s face darkened with anger. "Corbin always was ambitious, but this..." He shook his head. "I need to return to Veridia City immediately."


    "You can''t," I warned. "Corbin has likely dered you officially dead by now. And even if he hadn''t, you don''t look like yourself anymore."


    Michael nced down at his new body—younger, stronger, but undeniably not his original form.


    "You''re right," he admitted reluctantly. "No one would believe I''m Michael Ashworth. Not like this."


    Just then, mymunication device buzzed. I pulled it out with trembling hands, hoping against hope it would be news about Isabelle.


    It was a text message:


    "Liam, help me. Grandfather is dead. Corbin has locked me in. I don''t know what to do. Please, if you see this, help."


    My heart nearly stopped. The message was from Isabelle.


    "What is it?" Michael asked, noticing my expression.


    I handed him the device. "It''s from her."


    Michael read the message, his face growing paler. Without hesitation, I hit the call button, praying that Isabelle would answer.


    After several tense rings, someone picked up. But it wasn''t Isabelle''s voice I heard.


    "Who—who is this?" A woman''s shaky voice came through.


    "This is Liam Knight. Who am I speaking to?"


    "Oh, Master Knight!" The woman''s voice dropped to a whisper. "It''s Nanny Chen. I found Miss Ashworth''s device and saw your number."


    "Where is Isabelle?" I demanded, fear gripping my heart.


    "She''s... she''s confined to her quarters," the nanny replied, her voice barely audible. "Mr. Corbin has taken overpletely since Master Michael''s death. Miss Ashworth has no authority anymore."


    "Is she hurt?" I asked urgently.


    "Not physically, but..." The nanny hesitated. "She''s not allowed any contact with the outside world. They''ve taken everything from her. I shouldn''t even be using this device, but I knew she''d want me to respond if you called."


    I closed my eyes, trying to control my rage. "Listen to me carefully. I need you to give Isabelle a message."


    "Yes, Master Knight?"


    "Tell her that her grandfather is alive. Tell her that I brought him back, and that I''ming for her. No matter what happens, I wille for her."


    Michael watched me intently as I spoke, his expression a mixture of gratitude and concern.


    "I''ll tell her," the nanny promised.


    Suddenly, there was amotion on the other end of the line.


    "Who are you talking to?" A cold, familiar voice demanded. Corbin Ashworth.


    "N-no one, sir," the nanny stammered.


    "Give me that!" Corbin barked.


    There was a sound of a struggle, then a cry of pain. The nanny must have been shoved aside.


    "Who is this?" Corbin''s voice came through clearly now, menacing and sharp.


    I remained silent, debating whether to reveal myself.


    "I know someone''s there," he continued. "Speak, or I''ll have this woman punished for her disobedience."


    "This is Liam Knight," I finally said, my voice deadly calm.


    There was a pause, then a coldugh.


    "Well, well. The disgraced son-inw himself. I heard you survived the assassination attempt at Sea City. You''re proving harder to kill than I anticipated."


    "I''ming back to Veridia City," I told him. "And when I do, I''m going to take Isabelle away from you."


    "You think so?" Corbin''s voice dripped with disdain. "Isabelle is the crown jewel of the Ashworth family. Her marriage to Dashiell ckthorne will cement our position for generations toe. What could you possibly offer topare with that?"


    "Her freedom," I replied simply. "And her grandfather."


    There was a long silence.


    "What did you say?" Corbin finally asked, his voice suddenly tense.


    "You heard me," I said. "Michael Ashworth is standing right beside me. And he''s not happy with what you''ve done to his granddaughter."


    "Impossible," Corbin hissed. "My father is dead. I identified the body myself."


    "And yet here I am," Michael said loudly enough for the device to pick up his voice.


    Another lengthy silence followed. When Corbin spoke again, his voice had lost some of its confidence.


    "Whoever you are, you''re not my father. This is some trick. Some desperate attempt by Knight to interfere in Ashworth family matters."


    "Believe what you want," I said. "But know this: I''ming back to Veridia City. And I''m bringing Michael with me. You can either prepare to surrender control of the family, or prepare for war."


    Corbin''s voice hardened again. "You dare threaten me? Do you have any idea who I am? What power Imand?"


    "I know exactly who you are," I replied. "A usurper who''s about to lose everything."


    "You''ll never make it back to Veridia City alive," Corbin promised. "I''m dispatching a Grandmaster Peak assassin to find you as we speak. By this time tomorrow, you''ll be nothing but a memory."


    "I''ve faced worse than your hired killers," I told him.


    "We''ll see." Corbin''s voice grew quieter, more controlled. "As for Isabelle, don''t worry. I''ll take excellent care of her until the wedding. She''ll fulfill her duty to this family whether she wants to or not."


    The call ended abruptly.


    I lowered the device, my hands shaking with fury.


    "We need to move," Michael said urgently. "If Corbin is sending a Grandmaster Peak assassin after you, we can''t stay here."


    I nodded grimly, forcing myself to stand despite the pain. "I need to get back to Veridia City."


    "Not in your condition," Conrad objected. "You need to recover first."


    "There''s no time," I insisted. "Isabelle needs me."


    Michael gripped my shoulder. "Listen to me, Liam. I want to save my granddaughter as much as you do. But rushing in wounded and exhausted will only get you killed. We need a n."


    I knew he was right, but the thought of Isabelle trapped and alone tore at my heart.


    "One day," I conceded reluctantly. "I''ll take one day to recover. Then nothing will keep me from Veridia City."


    We made our way carefully through the forest, Conrad supporting me as we walked. My mind raced with ns and fears. There was one more thing I needed to do before I left.


    "Take me to the Veridia City Martial Guild branch office," I told Conrad.


    Both he and Michael looked at me in rm.


    "Are you insane?" Conrad asked. "That''s thest ce you should go right now."


    "There''s someone there I need to see," I exined. "Someone who owes me answers."


    "Who?" Michael demanded.


    "Rishi Sutton," I replied, my voice hardening. "The man who stole my pills and gave them to the Ashworth family." <kbd ss="meta-ref-static">Always read from the source: *.</kbd>


    Michael''s eyes widened in recognition. "The deception that led to my son expelling you from the family."


    "Yes," I confirmed. "And it''s time he paid for that betrayal."


    Despite their protests, I refused to change my mind. Eventually, they relented, and Conrad led us to the local branch of the Veridia City Martial Guild.


    The building loomed dark and imposing against the night sky. Guards patrolled the perimeter, but Conrad knew a side entrance that was rarely watched.


    "I''ll wait here," Michael said as we reached the door. "I can''t risk being recognized."


    I nodded, then turned to Conrad. "You don''t have toe either. This is my fight."


    Conrad shook his head. "I''m with you, Master Knight. Until the end."


    We slipped inside, moving silently through the shadows. I knew exactly where Rishi Sutton''s office would be—top floor, corner suite, the position of power.


    Pain shot through my body with every step, but I pushed it aside. Rage and determination carried me forward. After climbing several flights of stairs, we reached Sutton''s door.


    Light spilled from beneath it. He was still here, workingte as usual.


    Conrad looked at me questioningly. "What''s the n?"


    I didn''t answer. Instead, I drew back my foot and kicked the door with all my remaining strength. It crashed open, mming against the wall.


    Inside, Rishi Sutton sat at his desk, examining a set of familiar jade bottles. My pills. The ones he''d stolen and imed as his own.


    He looked up in shock as I stood in the doorway, blood-stained and furious.


    "Hello, Rishi," I said coldly. "We need to talk."