“You know,” he continued mockingly, “for someone with your reputation, I expected something more dramatic.”
A few Stonevale wolves laughed quietly behind him.
I ignored them completely.
My focus remained fixed on one thing only.
Distance.
The exact number of steps between me and Darren.
The exact amount of time it would take him to react if I lunged directly for him.
Too risky.
Not with the wolves positioned this tightly.
One delay.
One obstruction.
That dagger reaches Faye first.
No.
I needed a cleaner opening.
“You walked into sacred Stonevale grounds alone,” he said. “That was either very brave or very stupid.”
Still—
I said nothing.
And that seemed to irritate him even more.
Because men like Darren wanted reactions.
Wanted fear.
Wanted visible emotion.
And I was gi
