𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽'𝓼 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓷

Chapter-27

*•.¸♡ AUTHOR'S POV ♡¸.•*

"What are you doing here, ma'am?" Myra asked in disbelief, her voice trembling as she stared at the woman standing in their palace. She hadn't expected to see this woman again, not after all this time. 

How can you still be alive?

Myra's mind flashed back to their first encounter, remembering the unsettling words this lady had spoken. Back then, Myra had dubbed her the 'crazy lady,' dismissing her bizarre warnings as the ravings of a disturbed mind. Now, seeing her here, alive, and in their palace, Myra's shock deepened. The woman looked up, just as startled to see Myra.

"You should get up, ma'am. Those sharp pieces—" Myra stepped forward, intending to help, but before she could even reach out, a strong arm pulled her back. 

She gasped and looked up to find Diego holding her tightly, his grip firm and protective, his eyes blazing with anger as they locked onto the woman on the floor. Myra frowned, confused by the intensity of his glare.

"My Moon, you're the Queen of this palace. You shouldn't lower yourself to help worthless individuals," Diego's voice was gentle, almost tender, but his eyes never left the woman. The venom in his gaze was unmistakable, his words dripping with mockery meant for her.

"But—" Myra began, but her protest died in her throat as Diego shot her a warning glare, daring her to challenge him. The coldness in his eyes froze her words, and she swallowed hard.

"Go freshen up," he ordered his tone soft but carrying an edge that told her not to disobey. Reluctantly, Myra nodded, casting one last glance at the woman before leaving the room.

The woman's eyes never left Myra, wide and intense, following her every move until she disappeared. Just as Myra exited, a sudden cracking sound echoed through the room, jolting the woman out of her daze. She looked up to see the beast standing over her, his deadly eyes fixed on her with murderous intent.

"Looks like you need another round of torture to remember the rules of my palace, Sage." The beast's voice was low and menacing, causing Sage's eyes to widen in horror. She began to tremble, fear flooding her senses, but she couldn't afford to show it. Any sign of defiance would only make things worse, and she couldn't die now. Not yet. She had to survive—for her.

Bowing her head, Sage hurried to collect the broken pieces from the floor, her hands shaking as Diego's gaze bore into her with pure hatred. As she gathered the shards, he stepped forward and cruelly pressed his foot onto her hand, driving it into the sharp fragments. 

The sharp pain tore through her, and a scream of agony escaped her lips as she tried to free her hand, but Diego only increased the pressure.

A sickening crack sounded as the bones in her palm shattered under his weight. The pain was excruciating, but what hurt more was the realization of how powerless she was in his territory.

"How does it feel, Sage, to have a broken hand?" His voice dripped with cruel amusement, his eyes glowing with a sadistic pleasure. Sage looked up, her vision blurred by tears, only to meet the fierce, glowing eyes of Xendar. "Feels good, doesn't it?" he mocked, his foot grinding into her hand, snapping the bones of her knuckles and driving the sharp fragments deeper into her flesh.

"Clean this mess you made," Diego ordered coldly before walking away, leaving Sage alone in her misery. She cradled her mangled hand, trying to heal it out of instinct, but the cruel reality hit her hard. She was in Diego's palace, his domain, where even breathing required his permission, let alone using any of her powers.

Sage let out a guttural cry, a mix of pain and frustration. The situation was beyond unbearable—degrading, agonizing, and utterly hopeless.

One of the most powerful Lunarians, who had once obliterated countless Lunarian clans and viewed this beastkind as nothing more than vile filth, was now reduced to a worthless maid in the Beast King's palace, enduring constant torture and humiliation.