A/N: Happy 100th Chapter, dear readers!

We made it to the triple digits together. I’m genuinely hyped, and I hope you are too.

Quick ask: this book only has 1 review, and it feels wild to hit Chapter 100 with that. If you’re enjoying the story, would you drop a review after this Chapter? It takes only 2 minutes and genuinely helps the book reach more people.

Also heads up — massive Chapter drop on the 20th. Brace yourselves.

Thanks for being here. Every comment, read, and review keeps me writing.

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The beast the king had brought back had now been caged inside the throne hall to everyone’s horror, placed close to the throne with only a slight distance separating it from where Alaric would sit.

No one understood why he had ordered it brought there, but Alaric had done it for one reason alone, he wanted fear to settle deep into the palace walls, and he wanted everyone to feel it whenever they stood before him.

Low growls rolled from the cage as the tiger shifted restlessly behind the iron bars, its chains clinking softly whenever it moved.

Lord Cassian stood at one side of the hall, his body tense despite the calm expression he tried to maintain. Every snarl from the animal made his heart stumble, but he dared not show fear openly. On the floor before the throne were several chained prisoners captured from Vaelor, all silent beneath the beast’s heavy presence while the king remained absent, having gone to wash and change into fresh robes after returning.

When Alaric finally entered the throne hall, his perfume reached the room before he did. His dark hair fell straight down his back, still slightly damp, and the rich robes trailing behind him swept across the stone floor as his boots clicked against the ground.

"Your Majesty," they greeted at once, bowing their heads.

Night had already settled over the palace, though the throne hall remained brightly lit by rows of torches burning along the walls. Alaric could have retired to his chambers after the long journey back from war, but there was something he intended to deal with first.

As the king passed Cassian, the regent felt fear return full force. His face nearly lost color at the thought of Rosalind still missing. Even though he had ordered the guards to keep quiet about it, he doubted anything truly escaped Alaric for long. The king reached his throne and sat down smoothly while the tiger beside him snarled and threw itself lightly against the cage, though Alaric paid the beast no attention.

"Let’s begin," he said calmly.

"Your Majesty... these are the prisoners captured from Vaelor," one of the guards announced as they forced the chained captives forward.

Alaric’s gaze swept over them without much interest until his eyes settled on one particular woman. "You," he said quietly, and the guard behind her jerked harshly on her chains until she stood properly.

She had attended to the king needs throughout the war camp, but after revealing information about his movements to Vaelor, Alaric had ordered her captured immediately.

"I had many plans for you," he said with amusement lacing his voice. "Unfortunately, you ruined them with your own hands."

The woman lifted darkened eyes toward him without fear.

"You would have made a fine sixth mistress. Or perhaps the fifth, since I intend to marry one of them soon." His lips curved faintly. "But look at what your stupidity has brought upon you. You should have thought carefully before betraying me. No one escapes me."

"Do not speak as though you are a god," she shot back coldly. "You are only a man like the rest of us, and your days are beginning to run out."

Alaric tilted his head slightly, his smile stretching wider instead of fading. "Then why haven’t I died yet, if I’m no greater than the rest?" he asked.

"It is coming faster than you think," she replied sharply. "And I would rather die than become one of your mistresses, you disgusting tyrant."

The guard behind her yanked painfully on her chains, but Alaric only chuckled softly as though entertained by her words.

"Very well then," he murmured. "Take them all to the dungeon. At sunrise, they will be fed to my beast." His smile deepened into something far more disturbing. "I will at least allow you the mercy of saying your final prayers."

The words twisted the atmosphere of the throne hall instantly. Several prisoners began struggling against their chains while others pleaded desperately for another chance, but Alaric’s expression never changed.

The guards dragged them away one after another until only Cassian remained standing before the throne.

"Congratulations on your victory over Vaelor, Your Majesty," Cassian said carefully once the hall quieted again.

Alaric’s dark gaze lowered toward him slowly. "Why don’t you enlighten me about everything that happened during my absence?"

Cassian straightened immediately beneath the weight of that stare. "Everything within the palace remained in order during your absence, Your Majesty," he began cautiously. "Security was maintained, patrols continued as scheduled, and there were no breaches or external disturbances reported."

He paused briefly before continuing with even greater care. "Daily operations also continued without issue. The servants carried out their duties properly, and there were no signs of unrest among the staff or guards."

His voice slowly faded, leaving only the low growls of the tiger echoing through the throne hall alongside the pounding of his own heart.

Alaric tilted his head slightly. "Is that all?" he asked.

"Yes, my lord," Cassian answered at once.

Silence settled for a moment.

Then Alaric’s brows lifted faintly. "I heard some interesting rumors on my way back," he said calmly.

Cassian finally dared to look properly at the king, though dread had already begun tightening painfully inside him.

"Someone went missing under your watch," Alaric continued, his voice dangerously quiet. "Did you forget to mention that?"

Cassian swallowed hard. "I did not forget, Your Majesty... I was about to mention it," he said quickly, but Alaric’s eyes narrowed sharply at him.

"Lady Rosalind was reported missing this afternoon, and a full search of the palace was immediately ordered. During the search, a pearl was recovered from her chamber," he continued all at once.

Earlier, in his anger, Cassian had slapped the pearl from the guard’s hand without thinking, but after the guards left, he realized it belonged to the necklace Rosalind always wore, the same necklace the king himself had given her. He had immediately ordered it retrieved, and now he stepped forward carefully before presenting it to Alaric.

The throne hall fell silent.

A chill crawled slowly down Cassian’s spine as Alaric stared at the pearl resting in his palm. The king’s fingers moved over it slowly before his lips curled into a faint, chilling smirk.

Little Rosalind had dared to run from him.

Not only that, she had dismantled the necklace he gave her. It felt almost like a message directed at him personally, a warning, a challenge.

And Alaric did not take well to either.

His hand slowly tightened around the pearl.

"And you allowed this to happen?" the king asked sharply. "I specifically instructed you to keep watch over her. What exactly have you been doing in my absence?"

Cassian parted his lips to answer, but before he could speak, several guards hurried into the throne hall. Alaric’s gaze snapped toward them instantly, and they immediately dropped to their knees, heads lowered as fear visibly shook them.

"Speak," Alaric commanded.

The guards hesitated before one finally gathered enough courage to answer.

"We searched the palace repeatedly, Your Majesty, but we could not find her."

Alaric’s dark gaze slowly returned to Cassian. "You let her leave," he said in a dangerously low voice.

"I am certain she is still somewhere within the palace grounds, Your Majesty," Cassian quickly tried to explain. "She could not have gotten far."

"And the footman?" Alaric asked coldly. "Did he disappear with her?"

"No, Your Majesty. He has been taken to the dungeon," Cassian answered immediately.

Alaric’s eyes narrowed further.

So the footman had helped her escape and still returned afterward. Either he was unbelievably loyal, or unbelievably foolish.

"Bring him to me," Alaric ordered.

At once, the guards moved to obey.

"And the rest of you," he continued sharply, "bring the mistresses here. One of them must know something about this."

The guards immediately split apart and rushed from the hall in opposite directions.

Alaric’s attention returned to Cassian once more. "Lord Cassian," he said calmly, though anger was already beginning to seep through his voice, "you failed the task entrusted to you. You allowed someone to flee under your watch, and not just anyone, but the future queen of Eryndor."

The tiger beside the throne let out another low growl as chains rattled softly inside the cage.

"What punishment do you believe you deserve for such failure?" Alaric asked.

Cassian immediately dropped to his knees. "Please, Your Majesty... have mercy," he begged desperately.

"You shall serve as an appetizer for the beast before the main course arrives in the morning," Alaric said coldly.

Cassian’s face drained completely of color. "Please, Your Majesty, no!" he cried out in terror. "I have a family. Please do not kill me like this!"

"You should have thought of them before failing me," Alaric answered harshly.

With a slight jerk of his head, he signaled the guards forward.

The guards immediately seized Cassian and began dragging him toward the tiger’s cage. The moment the beast sensed movement approaching, it rose heavily to its feet and released a thunderous roar that echoed violently through the throne hall. Even weakened by the drugs forced into its system earlier, it still radiated enough danger to freeze blood.

Sweat poured down Cassian’s face as the handlers stepped into position, preparing to throw him toward the cage.

Realizing the king would not change his mind, panic finally overtook him completely.

With sudden desperation, Cassian tore himself free from the guards’ grip and staggered several steps away before yanking the dagger from his waist. Without hesitation, he drove the blade across his own throat and blood burst violently from the wound.

Cassian collapsed hard onto the stone floor, dead before anyone could stop him.