The Prince's Gift

Chapter 79.

Ehren waited to the side as my father stood before Maddox, his own silver blade gripped tightly in his hand. "You took pleasure in harming the one child I have, my daughter whom I loved with my entire being."

Thaddeus forced his blade into Maddox's back to the hilt, just above his shoulder.

"She was stolen from me from your kind and used at will by a King who doesn't deserve his crown." Thaddeus' words dripped with venom as he removed the dagger and drove it in once more at Maddox's lower back.

He walked around to face him, leaning down as he took his injured shoulder with a strong grip as he spoke. Maddox bared his teeth in pain but did not cry out. "You took what you saw fit to, but now it's time for you to pay for your cruelty. Your legacy and your reign ends here." His words came out in a growl as my father took his blade and slid it hard against Maddox's skin, slicing it straight across his stomach in a straight line as the cut ran deep.

Blood flooded from the wound as Maddox finally let out a deep growl of agonizing pain from the wound. "Your time has come to an end you bastard, and I'm going to enjoy seeing it finished." My father said before straightening.

In an instant, Maddox erupted with a burst of anger, lashing out with the words he knew would get my father's attention. "I had your daughter on her knees in more ways than I can count, and filled every bit of her and more. And what's better...she liked it. I had her purring like a kitten by the time I was finished with..."

My father bolted forward, slamming his free fist into Maddox's face as he yelled down at him. "You've lost you bastard! It's over. Say all you want, but she's about to take everything from you. Your time is finished. Do you understand?" He screamed.

Maddox let out a deep throaty chuckle as he sunk down lower and began to speak, low enough that my father had to lean forward just slightly to hear him. In an instant, his whole body straightened, colliding into my father and hitting him hard enough that he staggered over to his side and crashed into the restraint holding Maddox's right hand. The clanking of his chains echoed as everyone near him scrambled to recover, my father jumping back to his feet as Ehren stepped in front of a now trembling Braelyn as she stood to await her turn.

Maddox snarled loudly as the frenzy to secure him began. Hands flew into action as Zane, Ehren and my father reached for the loose chains and for Maddox himself to hold him down. Braelyn had been standing watching on in horror, frozen in place and I moved closer to her as she was pushed off her feet while they tried to contain a struggling Maddox. My eyes wouldn't leave the scene before me as I watched three men who meant the world to me now struggling with my most hated demon.

"Braelyn, it's ok. We're ok." I said, dropping to the floor and tearing my eyes away to inspect her for injury briefly as her eyes grew wider.

I could hear the men grunting as they struggled with Maddox, loud sounds of clanking and shifting metal against wood, but I focused to hold Braelyn in my sights.

"No! Get back! He has the..." I heard my father's voice call out and then suddenly my heart jolted into my throat.

I heard a loud guttural grunt and my head whipped around to see Zane and Ehren slumping to the ground, their bodies both falling down over Maddox as my father was reaching for them.

"Someone secure that chain." He ordered as he cautiously knelt down inspect the three men on the floor.

"Get up." I commanded quietly, but no one moved.

My stomach twisted tightly as I watched the scene in front of me. The whole encounter couldn't have lasted more than a few seconds, but I felt as if time itself was frozen in place as I held my breath waiting for both of them to stand. Finally, I saw Zane's body on top of the three begin to shift, first in his shoulders and then his legs until he finally rolled off of the top of the pile, gasping for breath as I felt a little relief trickle in. Zane was ok. My hand dropped to my stomach for just a moment as I said a silent thank you to the universe for Zane being alive. He had a large cut down bicep into his forearm, but he could be healed.