Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 60
Cassian,
10 vouchers
My hands were full of blood, and feverish rage pulsed inside my head as I watched those Rogues trembling under my gaze. The way Carolyn explained that they had talked about some outsiders and even dared to look at her in a disrespectful way, there was no way they were fully under control.
People who were under control followed commands. They didn’t act on their own whims.
I approached one of them, the one trembling more than the others. His expression was pale, confused, and more concerned than afraid.
I squatted before him. His breathing was uneven, shallow, and desperate. Pain was the only thing keeping him conscious. With the dagger in my hand, I tilted his chin upward.
He flinched violently, almost crying out like a frightened child. “I don’t know anything! I don’t know anything!” he started mumbling, over and over.
It made me smirk. Everyone here would say they didn’t remember anything. But he said he didn’t know anything.
“Look,” I said, my voice dripping with coldness, “either you tell the truth or you die. In this dungeon, nobody walks out without my permission. So be wise and tell me what you know.” My eyes darkened, a dangerous glint flashing behind the red.
I wasn’t going to let them go even if they were innocent. No one had that right after trying to hurt Carolyn.
“I don’t know! I really don’t know! Please, let me go!” he cried again, his body shaking.
I groaned in frustration and pressed the tip of the dagger against his jaw, just enough to pierce the skin. Blood trickled down his neck as a pained gasp escaped him, but I didn’t push deeper. Not yet.
“Your Majesty!” Lorenzo’s voice broke through the heavy silence. He entered the chamber, holding a document, and handed it to me. I snatched it from him with my bloody hand, staining the paper crimson.
“These are their formal identities,” Lorenzo said. “They are indeed from our region, but they were disconnected from the Pack because of previous crimes p>
I scanned the list. A sense of unease crawled over me. Too many had been separated from the Pack for various reasons, yet instead of forming their own group, they had fallen under someone’s control.
“Ryan Vladir,” I muttered, noticing a man with a mate and two children listed beside the name.
The rogue in front of me looked up instantly, eyes widening in horror and pain.
It didn’t take long to realize he was Ryan Vladir.
I handed the document back to Lorenzo and gave a cold smirk. “Capture all their families and throw them into the dungeon. If these cowards won’t talk, their families might.” I wiped the blood off the dagger on my palm, my tone chillingly calm. “If they don’t confess, their family will do p>
“No!” Ryan’s voice broke as he tried to pull against the chains like a desperate fool. “Leave my family alone! They didn’t do anything p>
“Now you talk like a human?” I chuckled darkly, tilting my head. “Did you remember that when you attacked my family p>
I kicked his leg sharply, forcing him to collapse. His groan echoed through the dungeon. I crouched again, close enough that he could see the rage burning in my eyes. “If you want to protect them, tell me what you know. Otherwise…” I leaned closer,
letting my breath fan against his trembling face. “I will make sure you watch how miserable I make their lives p>
His pupils shook violently with terror and disbelief. “No… you can’t. You’re the King. A King doesn’t punish the innocent.
You can’t p>
“Try me.” My voice was low, deliberate. I straightened, turning away. “You have two hours to decide. Your words or your family p>
I didn’t want to use innocent people, but right now, I had no other choice. I had to prevent more lives from being dragged into this chaos. Today, they had the audacity to enter my mansion. Tomorrow, they might attack civilians.
I wouldn’t let anyone get hurt again.
“You should take a bath, Your Majesty. The Elders are still waiting in the throne room,” Lorenzo said as he followed me out of the dungeon corridor.
I nodded quietly, wiping my silver dagger clean. The metallic scent lingered on my hands as I walked through the dim hallways.
After washing off the blood and taking a shower, I returned home. The silence that greeted me was heavier than usual. The first thing I noticed again was Roana’s absence. Not even her scent lingered in the air. It was as if she hadn’t been home for the last twenty-four hours.
A low growl rumbled in my chest. She should have acted like an adult and spoken to me directly if something was wrong. She had told me to keep boundaries, and I did. But now, she had pulled away completely?
What was she trying to do? Push me until I crossed a line she could accuse me of later?
room
The thought made the frustration coil in my gut. I headed downstairs toward the throne but stopped halfway when I noticed Carolyn sitting in the living room with her servant.
Her wheelchair stood beside her, and the sight hit me like a punch. She looked frail under the golden light of the chandelier, her skin pale, her hands resting limply on her lap. A faint tremor ran through her fingers as if she was forcing herself to appear strong.
“Her Highness could have visited you once, My Lady,” the servant whispered softly beside her. “How heartless that she didn’t even check on you p>
The words made my brows tighten. Carolyn’s head lowered slightly, her voice trembling with practiced gentleness.
“It’s fine,” she murmured, forcing a small, broken smile. “I am sure Her Highness is busy. I must not be important enough for her time anymore p>
Her tone pierced through the air like a quiet accusation wrapped in innocence. My steps echoed against the marble as I approached them. Carolyn’s eyes flicked up, glimmering with warmth the moment she saw me,
“Cassian!” she breathed out, her fingers reaching for my wrist
the instant I stood near. Her touch was weak, almost hesitant, but her eyes held the soft relief of someone desperate for comfort. When did you return? Have you had dinner yet? I didn’t. Maybe we could eat together… if you are not too tired p>
Her words were trembling, yet deliberate, laced with the quiet sorrow.
“What do you mean by saying My Luna didn’t pay a visit?” I asked sharply, cutting through her attempt to sound calm. My voice was low, commanding, the kind that silenced every breath Is.
Carolyn’s gaze fell again, her lashes trembling as she swallowed nervously. “Oh… she didn’t come to meet me. Not even once. I thought she might visit since… well, I was injured because of the rogues. But perhaps she has other priorities p>
Her servant stepped forward eagerly, adding fuel to the fire. “Her Highness hasn’t attended any meals since yesterday, Your
Majesty. The others said she might be avoiding My Lady because you stayed late in her room p>
I turned my attention to Carolyn. She bit her lower lip softly, feigning guilt. “Please, Cassian, don’t misunderstand her. Maybe she just doesn’t want to make me uncomfortable. I… I shouldn’t have made her think there’s something inappropriate between us p>
Her words tightened the air around us. I felt the muscles in my jaw harden.
“Are you certain she is avoiding you?” I asked, my tone flat but heavy with control.
“Yes,” the servant replied quietly. “She hasn’t come downstairs at all. Not since last night p>
“Where is her servant, Sierra?” I demanded, my tone sharp enough to make the servant flinch.
“No idea, Your Majesty. We saw her yesterday with the guards, but she hasn’t returned today p>
I stood there for a long moment, the weight of silence pressing against my shoulders. My patience was wearing thin.
Carolyn’s soft voice broke it again. “Cassian… please, don’t be angry with her. I am sure she will come around. Perhaps I just made her uncomfortable without meaning to.” Her eyes shimmered faintly as she looked up at me. “I don’t want her to think I’m standing between you two p>
Her words were drenched in the perfect mix of guilt and selflessness. It wasn’t her fault. Yet, she decided to apologize.
I clenched my jaw, suppressing the growl building inside me.
Perhaps Roana was spending her time with that cowboy and her horse in his farmhouse.
My gaze darkened, a shadow cutting through my thoughts. You are disappointing me, Roana.
admin