It had been a full week since I came to the Draven Villa. Seven days that felt like both a lifetime and a blink of an eye. I had laughed with the twins, shared stories with my mother, and for the first time in so long, I felt what it meant to live inside a family that wasn't built on hostility. Yet tonight, as the stars pierced the ink-black sky, I knew I couldn't avoid what was promised.
The courtyard was quiet except for the whisper of the wind brushing against the stone walls. A wide, open space had been cleared earlier that day. Lanterns glowed faintly at the corners, illuminating the arena with a golden hue. I stood barefoot on the cool ground, feeling my heart beat faster with every passing second.
