Page 17 of Dark Goodbye

Walking back to the door, I bring my hand to the metallic surface and give it a hard, rapid knock. This way, they won’t even suspect that I listened in on their dastardly plans.

“Enter.” At Jaxxon’s barked order, I push the door open, make my way to the throne, and school my face as I bend low in a supplication I no longer feel.

“Ahh. Healer Alpha Davix. Thank you for answering my summons.”

“Yes, my lord, King Alpha. Though I wasn’t aware that I had a choice.” All three men exchange guarded glances before Jaxxon clears his throat and trains his gaze back onto me.

“You are correct. It was not a request, but I can still thank you for your obedience. I assume you know why you’re here.”

Unease prickles the back of my neck as his eyes bore into mine. Had I truly misinterpreted the conversation and their intent is to actually execute me? “No, my lord King Alpha. I was not given the parameters of this visit.”

With a sweep of Jaxxon’s hand, he motions toward Langston who stands and walks out another door. Low growls and the clanking of chains reach my ears moments before the door opens back up, revealing Langston and an Alpha I recognize from the dungeons.

Though his name escapes me, his scent does not. It permeated the air in Ladria’s cell, mingling with the terror I picked up from the sour notes in her scent. Growl lodged in my throat, I lunge forward, but pull myself back quickly, hoping I hadn’t just given myself away.

Jaxxon slides his gaze over to me but remains silent, thoughtful. Lips pulled back, I scent the air, smelling Ladria on him. How fucking dare he defile her scent by wearing it on his body.

“I take it you’re familiar with this man?”

Reining in my emotions, I turn to Jaxxon, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. “I know of him. He’s a guard.”

“Such a visceral reaction for a man you seem to barely know,” Langston chimes in, crossing his arms.

Next to him, Altris stands, his body nearly vibrating as he waits there, staring me down. Gods, but this is not the outcome I want. There has to be a way to rein this in.

“It’s his scent I recognize most. When I came to work today, I was informed of the death of an omega. When I went to investigate, pulling out my respirators to get a better assessment of everything, this guard’s scent was all over the space. At first, I thought nothing of it. Then, I caught the same female scent on his body. As a doctor, I feel that I’m qualified to make leaps in judgment. This is one of those times.”

The three men stare at me for a moment, but then tension in their shoulders wane until their stance is far more relaxed. Taking in a breath, I hold firm, giving them no reason to suspect anything other than what I said.

“You are correct,” Langston continues. “He stands accused in the omega’s death. The reason you are here is that a Healer Alpha needs to be present for his execution to ensure that he is, in fact, dead. We tried reaching out to Malus, but no one can seem to track him down. You were next on the list seeing as you oversee the facility.”

My lips curl back into a feral grin as I stare the guard down. “It would be a pleasure to assist. The loss of any omega is detrimental to the survival of Stanlion.”

Jaxxon rises, his lips twisted up into a grimace. “Well put.”

One by one, they all file out, leaving Annora and me alone in the throne room for a few moments. “Are you well my lady Queen Omega?”

She lowers her head, a soft smile gracing her lips as she runs a hand down her flat stomach. “More than I ever dreamed I could be. Thank you. Truly. I will never forget your kindness.”

Lowering my head into a nod, I slip out of the room and join the others. Just as I thought, the guard is strapped down to a piece of wood as Altris holds an axe high above his head. Even though this man didn’t, in fact, kill Ladria, this punishment is still far too swift for my liking.

I stand steadfast, my eyes never leaving the guard’s face. I don’t want to miss a single moment. I want to watch as the life goes out of his eyes. Even now, he trembles before us, his body stinking of fear and aggression.

It’s far too late. If Jaxxon hadn’t ordered his execution, it would have still come. Just at my hands instead. The guard’s body shifts about, his eyes wild as he looks for salvation that never comes.

Altris tips his head up to the sky, his lips murmuring words to the heavens before bringing the axe down in one swift stroke. It cleanly separates the head from the body, sending out a spurt of blood to coat the ground mere seconds before the head comes tumbling forward.

It rolls upwards, his lifeless eyes staring straight into my soul. It doesn’t matter that he died for a crime he technically didn’t commit. The very fact that he laid his hands on my omega and caused her harm is enough.

“Seems to me that his life is completely gone from his body. If there isn’t anything more, I’ll let you see to cleaning it up.” I turn to leave, but Jaxxon’s barked order to wait stops me in my tracks.

“Thank you. I know this seems ridiculous, but I demand transparency for all factions of Stanlion, even mine. You have my gratitude for standing watch as a witness to these proceedings. Please be sure to have Malus write up a report of his findings so that I may add it to the file.”

Transparency. Laughable. The same man that touts full transparency is the same to plot my future in secret. It eases the guilt of lying, knowing that he’s just as guilty as me. “As you wish.” Bowing low, I turn once more and head out, desperate to be by Ladria’s side.

I’ve already been gone far too long, and it eats at me, causing my pace to quicken as I head back to my transport. Once again, Jaxxon has thrown a wrench into my plans. The report isn’t difficult in and of itself, but I’ll have to memorize Malus’s signature and then use his own hand to seal it.

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