Beneath Her Charm

violence. The choice clawed at him-stay and trust this stranger or face the threat head-on, alone. "Dare," Zara's voice sliced through his spiraling panic, calm but urgent. "You're still br

tlessly, his strikes growing faster, more aggressive. Zara blocked another blow, but the force sent her stumbling back. "Dare!" she shouted, her eyes locking onto his. "This is your fight too! Stand up and fight!" Her words jolted him like a slap. He couldn't hide. Not anymore. His father's name, his legacy-it had all led to this moment. If he wanted to survive, he had to fight. Gritting his teeth, Dare gripped his dagger and charged. Morgan turned, a sneer twisting his features as he sidestepped Dare's clumsy attack. But Dare didn't stop. He swung again, forcing Morgan to block. Zara seized the opening, her blade slicing through the air. It grazed Morgan's arm, drawing a thin line of blood. He hissed, retreating a step, his gaze darkening. "You're better than I thought," Morgan admitted, his tone grudging. "But you're still out of your depth." Zara smirked, her breath steady despite the fight. "Then come show me." Morgan lunged again, and the battle raged on. Dare stayed close to Zara, his movements growing more confident as he followed her lead. Together, they pushed Morgan back, their combined efforts forcing him onto the defensive. Finally, with a well-timed feint, Zara disarmed him, her blade pressed against his throat. "It's over," she said, her voice cold. But Morgan didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled. "You think this is the end? You've only delayed the inevitable." Before Zara could react, he pressed a button on his wristwatch. A loud beeping filled the air, and smoke began to pour into the room. "Get down!" Zara shouted, dragging Dare to the floor as the smoke engulfed them. By the time it cleared, Morgan was gone. Dare coughed, his lungs burning. "What the hell just happened? Who was that guy?" Zara sheathed her blade, her expression grim. "Someone who doesn't take no for an answer. And he's not the last." Dare pushed himself to his feet, his legs trembling. "What do they want from me? Why are they after me?" Zara hesitated, her gaze softening. "Be