EIGHTY ONE

EIGHTY ONE
CAMILLE'S POV

Surely, such an old and barbaric-sounding law would have no legal standing.

But the sight unfolding before me seemed to be turning out very differently.

Neal, who had been holding a gun to Milana's father's head, seemed so shocked by the challenge that the weapon dropped from his hand.

His gaze shifted to Dimitri and then the others. He seemed just as surprised as I was that nobody seemed to be resisting the duel that had been thrown at Dimitri.

From the safety of my window, I looked at Dimitri, and the look on his face was perhaps that was the biggest shock I had gotten in my life.

I knew resignation when I saw it. Dimitri intended to give in. If this were happening any differently, perhaps I would not have any issues about it.

But Dimitri has just survived a violent attack from the curse. His body couldn't have fully recovered. Not to mention, his opponent was a Lycan that could somehow shift without the full moon.

Lycans were not usually in control when the beast awakened. The whole situation was anything but ordinary. So my heart bled at the thought of what could happen.

I turned to the babysitter who had successfully comforted my children, and I made a difficult decision.

"Keep my children safe. I have to get downstairs."

Sophia, however, was having none of it. She tore out of the babysitter's grip and rushed to my side. "No, Mommy, don't go!" she pleaded, tears glistening in her eyes.

I knelt down to her level, wrapping her in a tight embrace. "Sweetheart, I have to. I need to make sure Daddy is okay."

"But what if something happens to you too?" she sobbed, clinging to me desperately.

I gently brushed her tears away, trying to muster a reassuring smile. "I'll be careful, I promise. And I'll be back before you know it. Just stay here with the babysitter and keep your brother safe, okay?"

Sophia reluctantly nodded, her grip loosening slightly. "Okay, Mommy. But please be careful."

"I will," I assured her, pressing a kiss to her forehead before standing up and turning to the babysitter. "Please, take care of them."

The babysitter nodded solemnly, her expression filled with concern. "I will, ma'am. Don't worry about a thing."

With one last glance at my children, I stepped out of the room, my heart pounding with fear and determination. I needed to get downstairs as. I hurried down the stairs and ran outside to stop whatever hell was unfolding outside.

When I reached the scene, more men had gathered around, blocking even my path. They were whispering as I pushed past them.

"He has no choice but to accept. Sad as it is, it is still our law."

"I worry about His Majesty. Accepting would be suicide, and refusing would be an admission of guilt. If only the full moon could show up to save the day. Suppose Dorian Legrand kills His Majesty. The Legrands would take over the throne. Which is something the man has always wanted."

"Right? Now that Lady Milana has passed. There is no way his blood would touch the throne."

Anger bubbled within me. If they were right, it was sickening that the man would use a tragic thing that happened to his daughter to assassinate Dimitri's character before attempting to do the same in a duel that would bring him a step closer to the throne if he won.

When I reached the front of the gathering sentinels, I got a good view of Dimitri and Milana's father.

Neal was the first to notice me.

"You shouldn't be here," he told me when he approached me. "What about the kids?"

"They are fine." I shut it as quickly as I could. I knew he was worried. But Dorian Legrand's ambition seemed to be elsewhere. "How can such a law stand?"

"Because the new laws were refined from the old laws to fit the changing society. The old ones were never regarded as obsolete in Lycan law. So it still stands."

"What If Dimitri refuses? I understand that would seem like an admission of guilt, but that seems like the better option, considering the state of his mind and even his body."

"That is the thing," Neal replied, turning towards the scene everyone seemed so invested in. "Dimitri cannot refuse, according to old law. The only choice he has is to accept the duel and win."

It was probably horrendous of me to believe that my mate couldn't win this. The odds were not in his favor. It didn't help that Neal was bothered about the sight himself.

"Do you think Dimitri can win?" I asked him.

His eyes didn't leave his King and Dorian. Dorian was waiting for Dimitri's answer, and Dimitri was conflicted with the only choice he had to make.

"It doesn't help that he is recovering and doesn't have the entire strength of his beast to back him. But that is not what bothers me."

"What bothers you then? The fact that the man can turn without the full moon?

"Ordering the natural order has its consequences. But Dorian Legrand's unnatural nature isn't what bothers me. It is the fact that Dimitri won't give it his all for Milana's memory and a better part of his guilt."

I thought that, too.

I thought about Dimitri's internal struggle, torn between this and his own physical and emotional limitations. It was agonizing to witness him in such pain, especially knowing that he was still reeling from the trauma of Milana's death.

"He's been through so much," I murmured, my heart aching for him. "I just wish there was something we could do to help him."

Neal nodded in agreement, his expression troubled. "I know, Camille. But ultimately, this is his battle to fight. All we can do is offer our support and hope for the best, no matter the outcome."

Except I couldn't do that. I wasn't going to sit down and hope for good things to come my way. Not when the whole reason for this mess was standing right there where I could see, pretending to be innocent.

"I think it's time," I told Neal.

"Time for what?" He asked, following my gaze. His expression hardened when he realized I was staring at Eva.

"It's time to confront her," I declared. "She can't continue to manipulate and deceive us while we stand idly by. I am certain even this is her doing. We need to hold her accountable for her actions and ensure that justice is served."

Neal nodded as he considered my words. "You're right, Camille. But what about Dimitri? This will wreck him."

"But he will be alive. He will have time to grieve. He will have time to be angry. But what matters is that he will be alive."

"Are you stalling, Your Majesty?" Dorian teased Dimitri. "Are you scared you will lose?"

He was in so much pain. None of it was physical. But it was pain nonetheless. I watched Dimitri's jaw clench. I saw something dark flash in his eyes flash as he met Dorian's taunting gaze. "I am not stalling, Dorian," he replied, his voice low and steady. "If a duel is what would bring you peace for what happened to Milana, then I accept your duel."

A murmur rippled through the crowd as Dimitri's words hung in the air. This was not a decision to be taken lightly, yet Dimitri had chosen to face his opponent head-on despite the odds stacked against him.

Dorian's smirk widened into a predatory grin, and his eyes glowed with manic glee. "Very well, then," he chuckled. "Let the duel begin. May the best man win."

That was my breaking point. Before the first blow could be struck, my voice shattered through the murmurs, cutting through the chaos like a carving knife.

"Stop!"

All eyes turned to me as I stepped forward, my gaze locked with Dorian's. His expression hardened. There was a glimmer of annoyance flickering in his eyes at the interruption.

"What are you doing, Camille?" Dimitri's voice rang out behind me, laced with confusion and concern.

Ignoring Dimitri's question, I focused on Dorian, my voice steady despite the storm brewing within. "If you want to unleash your rage, Mr. Legrand," I declared, "then direct it at the one truly responsible for Milana's death."

I turned, facing Eva with unflinching disgust. "It was her," I accused, pointing a trembling finger in her direction. "She manipulated you. She manipulated all of us. She played us like pawns in her twisted game, and Milana paid the ultimate price."

Eva's eyes widened in shock, her facade of innocence crumbling before my accusing gaze.