A Dance Of Crowns & Thrones | Book I

Chapter 141 | Death In Motion

Xero's arrival shattered the tension in the room with a jarring thud, the sound echoing ominously through the chaos. As he approached the grand throne, he executed a calculated bow, but what he found there defied all expectations—not a sorcerer or sorceress, but someone far more unsettling.

Flanking the throne was a bald-headed girl whose presence starkly contrasted with the ominous backdrop of the beast that lounged in the shadows. The throne itself was a grotesque amalgam of menacing horns, casting a dark, foreboding silhouette that dominated the room.

The beast shifted, its massive form leaning forward as it issued a deep, rumbling growl laced with malevolence. "If the crystal pulsates as you anticipate, your life may be spared," it intoned, its voice dripping with ominous threat. Its gaze lingered on the girl beside it, a silent warning etched in its eyes.

Madison stood beside the throne, her once-familiar features now grotesquely altered. A deep, jagged scar sliced from her jawline to her cheekbone, its red, raised edges contrasting sharply against her pale skin. The scar was uneven and puckered, as if a rough blade had sliced through her flesh. Her skin was mottled with additional scars—angry, purple welts and faded, silvery lines that spoke of prolonged suffering. Her eyes, though fierce and unyielding, were haunted, shadowed by dark circles and a weary depth. Her posture was rigid and despite the pain etched into her appearance, she met the beast's gaze with steely resolve. A curt bow followed, a gesture of deference that belied the underlying hostility and silent rebellion she harbored.

"As long as my cousin remains unharmed," Madison hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "If you've killed him as promised and burned Allegiant to the ground, the crown will assist you in whatever way we can in this war."

The beast studied Madison with a predatory gaze, its eyes narrowing into slits as it assessed the gravity of her demands. Shadows deepened around the throne, the chamber growing darker as the beast's presence seemed to engulf the room. After a protracted, agonizing pause, the beast's gaze shifted to Xero, its voice emerging as a low, rumbling growl, laden with menace.

"It's done?" the beast intoned, the weight of its words reverberating with authoritative finality.

Xero, feeling the beast's unrelenting gaze upon him, lifted his head with a grim, steely satisfaction. "Yes," he declared, his voice taut with a harsh edge. "The electro pulse worked perfectly. I personally drove a dagger into his chest. He is dead."

Madison's eyes, sharp and piercing, narrowed as they locked onto Xero. Her loathing for Matthew burned with an unquenchable fury, fueled by his ruthless reputation and the knowledge that he was the Ace—a man with a notorious ability to defy death. The thought of Xero claiming to have ended him so easily was almost unfathomable. "I want confirmation," she demanded, her voice a taut whisper, strained with bitter resolve. "If there's even the slightest chance he survived, I need to know. I refuse to believe it until I see proof."

Xero's response was a sharp, venomous hiss, his voice barely containing the anger bubbling beneath the surface. "He's dead."

Madison's eyes blazed with fury, her voice trembling with raw, unbridled rage. "And you know what that son of a bitch is like!" She spat the words like venom, her anger palpable and explosive.

The beast's gaze hardened, its eyes narrowing with a cold, calculating gleam. It absorbed Xero's confirmation, its voice dropping to a dangerous, menacing whisper. "Would you bet your life on it, hmm?" The question was more than just a challenge; it was a direct threat to Xero.

Xero's gaze shifted from Madison's fierce stare to the beast, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face. The weight of the beast's scrutiny was crushing, but he squared his shoulders, determined not to waver.