CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE DUEL FOR DAPHNE

DAPHNE'S POV I thought about all the times Javion had been the bigger man, the leader who showed mercy even when it wasn’t deserved. That was who he was, and I loved him for it. I didn’t want to see him become something else—something darker—just because of Xander. I sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of my decision. “Javion,” I started, my voice softer than I intended, “forgive him.” There was a collective intake of breath from everyone around us. I could feel Luca’s eyes burning into me, disbelief clear on his face. Even Javion seemed shocked, his brows knitting together in confusion. “Forgive him?” Luca echoed, his voice tinged with anger. “Daphne, after everything he’s done?” I nodded, though I could barely believe I was saying it myself. “Yes. Because killing him won’t bring back the dead. It won’t undo the pain he’s caused. It’ll just make us like him.” Javion’s expression softened, and I could see the conflict fading from his eyes. He nodded slowly, his grip on Xander