5: Break her

ASMODEUS (JADEN NOX)

My lips curled up in disdain as I watched her body lying on the ground.

Silence reigned in front of the royal building— as it should.

I could smell the fear that gripped everyone, and it disgusted me. But what disgusted me more was her weakness and the horror that flashed across her eyes before she fell.

I never expected her to be so weak, and I hated to find out now.

I stood over her, my eyes drawn down to her pale body and my hand stretched out for a wipe.

One of the guards stepped forward and placed a wipe in my hand.

I raised the sword delicately like the treasured possession it has always been, and with so much practiced care, I scrubbed the blood from the two-edged blade.

My eyes slanted with satisfaction when blood spread over the white piece in my hand, and the blade gleamed spotlessly.

“Keep it safe,” I muttered as I threw it to one of the guards before turning towards the building.

Everyone quickly bowed and shifted far away from the path I was about to tread upon.

I kept my face straight, watching every bent head and shaking hand.

“My Lord!” 

My feet stopped in the puddle of blood when Leticia's voice pierced the air.

I tilted my head to the side, narrowing my eyes over her bent figure.

“Should I take Miss Perez to her quarters?” She muttered.

Despite how brave she always acted, the slight quiver in her voice whenever she spoke to me never failed to betray her.

“What did you say?” I asked when I realized that I wasn't paying attention to her words.

She slightly raised her head, surprise and fear darting across her eyes.

She quickly lowered her head when our eyes met for a split second.

“Should I take the Luna to her quarters?” She asked again.

I frowned deeply and let out a scoff.

“Luna?” I spat out with heavy mockery and rage in my voice.

Leticia gasped and went down to her knees, her head still bowed.

“Forgive me, my Lord,” she pleaded.

I darted another glance at her pale body on the ground, and I felt anger coerce through me.

“She isn't Luna yet, so no one calls her that,” I ordered.

I looked at her again, my eyes darkening even more.

“Take her to the Harem,” I muttered.

“Yes, my lord!” Leticia said after a second of hesitation.

I turned and headed into the building, perceiving the gossip and rumors that would spread soon.

I could make anyone fall to their knees and do whatever I bid, but rumors would always spread, and no matter how many chains I wrapped around the necks of the BloodMoon Pack members, the rumors wouldn't stop.

The rumors about my curse have been going on for years and even written down in books and spread in anonymous podcasts.

I could track these people down and silence them if I wanted, but I couldn't.

The curse was associated with my name whenever I was searched for, and even though it irritated me, I still enjoyed the fear it brought whenever a Luna died here.

I don't need to struggle so much to make Alphas submit to me. All I would do is charm their favorite daughter, announce her as my next Luna, and watch her father surrender his loyalty to me in exchange for his daughter's life.

They would rather have their daughters spend the rest of their lives in my harem than rule the Pack beside me.

“Alpha,” my Beta pulled out the chair for me as I walked into my office.

As I plopped into the chair, I reached for a pack of cigarettes and pulled out my lighter.

“The heirloom has been retrieved back to its place, my king,” my Beta, Nolan, muttered.

The cigarette stopped midway, and my eyes darkened in rage.

“The Luna Dowager has gone down to the crypt,” he added.

I sighed and lit the cigarette, feeling the anger in me burn hotter than the spark of light against the cigarette butt.

“Let her know the rings have been found,” I muttered.

“Yes, my Lord,” he muttered.

Silence fell in the room as I smoked away the rage that flowed through my veins.

“Mia Perez,” I whispered her name, the rage heightening. “Perez…”

Perhaps I shouldn't have given her an option. I should have let her suffer and die in that cruel prison.

My mother almost lost her life because of those rings, and yet I let that little thief breathe for another second.

My jaw clenched, and I crushed the cigarette stick, the butt burning into my palm.

“Did you find her boyfriend?” I asked in a hoarse voice.

Nolan hesitated before he pulled closer. From the corner of my eyes, I watched him rub his sweaty palm together.

“I think this was all orchestrated by the organization,” he whispered.

My lips twitched up, and I let out a dark chuckle.

“I thought so.”

Nolan rubbed his palm again, swinging his head from one side to another as he shifted uncomfortably.

“What do you want to say?” I questioned when I couldn't take the irritating discomfort anymore.

Relief washed over his face, and he let out a sigh before pulling closer.

“Are you going to let Miss Perez go since she isn't the culprit?” He asked.

I chuckled and got up, then strolled over to the window.

I stared down at the large field full of trainers.

“No,” I blurted out calmly.

“She will take the fall for her boyfriend,” I said. I tilted my head to look at Nolan's fallen face.

“If you care so much about her, then work on finding that non-existent boyfriend of hers,” I added. “Until then…” I trailed, watching his pale skin, a smirk on my face. “She is mine.”

Nolan's throat bulged, and he rubbed his hands together.

“Yes, my lord,” he bowed.

He took a step back, hesitation and pity still in his eyes.

“Should I instruct Leticia to prepare her tonight?” He asked.

The smirk on my face widened as the dark thoughts of ways to break her tonight filled my head.

“Yes.”