CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FORTY-THREE Ian struggled with the guilt that crept into his mind while he watched the General effortlessly drag the ninja to a corner of the space, sweeping the floor with her body after giving her two heavy punches on the face, whichLucian was certain was going to give her so many bruises and swell. “Whoever is friends with Lord Ivan is an enemy of the throne! And enemies of the throne deserve to die! All of you!” General Hector said with so much anger laced in his voice, and while he was still dragging the ninja who let go of her swords while she grunted in pain, Lucian heard the sound of heavy footsteps stomping toward them, which made him then at once. “General Titus!” Lord Ivan said with so much disappointment as soon as he saw the General whom he was told had been burnt to ashes. He turned to look at the five men standing close to him with so much anger while they took several steps backward, afraid of what their fate could be. “Shoot him down at once!

CHAPTER HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE For a moment, Lady Seraphina was convinced that General Hector was going to give her the response she desired even though she knew that he could be very stubborn. As she stood in front of him, she maintained a confident smile, hoping to hear a suitable response from him. “Go on, my love. Tell us where he is. This doesn’t have to take so much time.” Lady Seraphina got rid of the silence between her and her lover whom she had rendered speechless and heartbroken by her betrayal. “What do you want with the King?” General Hector asked with a whisper, looking at Seraphina who had suddenly become a stranger. “I want to kill him. Oh yes, I want to stab him so hard that he will bleed to death.” Seraphina said with a cold voice, unperturbed about the fact that her words shocked the General who sighed heavily before giving her a response. “I can’t tell you, Seraphina. I cannot tell you where the King is. I ave sworn my allegiance to the throne, and I will cont

“Why did you kill them, Seraphina?”General Hector stared at the woman standing before him, waiting for an answer.For several seconds, Lady Seraphina said nothing.Then she smiled.“Because I wanted to.”Hector's face tightened.“That is your answer?”“Yes.”She lowered her sword slightly while looking at him.“You keep asking questions as though there is still something between us that needs to be explained.”“There was something between us.”“There was.”Seraphina's response came without hesitation.Hector felt his chest tighten.“You said you loved me.”“I did.”“And you meant it?”Seraphina looked at him for a long moment before she nodded.“Yes.”Hector's grip around his sword tightened.“Then how could you do this?”Seraphina stepped closer.“Love does not make a person weak, Hector. You were the one who made it weak.”Lucian remained silent as he watched them.There was something strange about the way Seraphina spoke.She wasn't trying to defend herself.She wasn't even trying

The footsteps grew louder.Hector shifted the King's weight against his shoulder.Lucian looked down the corridor.At least six men were approaching.Maybe more.There was nowhere to hide.Hector glanced toward the room behind them.“We can't go back.”Lucian looked at the King.“Can you walk?”The King shook his head.“I can barely stand.”Hector tightened his grip.“Then I'll carry you.”The King looked at him.“Hector.”“What?”“You need to leave me.”Hector stared at him.“No.”“If they catch you because of me—”“They're already hunting me.”Hector looked toward the approaching footsteps.“And I'm not leaving you here.”The King lowered his eyes.Lucian stepped forward.“There's another passage.”Hector looked at him.“Where?”Lucian pointed toward a narrow doorway farther down the corridor.“I saw it when we came through.”Hector frowned.“That leads to the servants' quarters.”“Then that's where we're going.”Hector looked at the King.“We move quickly.”They started down the co

The passage narrowed as they ran.Hector kept one arm around the King while moving as quickly as he could.Lucian stayed behind them.The sound of the creature followed.Stone cracked.Dust filled the air.Something struck the wall behind Lucian.He looked back.A large portion of the passage collapsed.“Keep moving!”Hector didn't need to be told twice.The man in the dark coat ran ahead of them.He reached a stone door and pushed against it.Nothing happened.He tried again.“It won't open.”Hector looked at him.“You said there was another exit.”“There is.”“Then open it.”The man stepped aside.“There is a mechanism.”Lucian approached the wall.“Where?”The man pointed toward several carved symbols.“The correct sequence.”Hector looked at him.“You don't know it?”“I haven't used this passage in years.”A violent impact shook the tunnel.The creature was getting closer.The King looked at the sealed door.“We don't have years.”Lucian examined the symbols.They were similar to