Chapter 81: One Death is Nothing 

Ruby’s POV 

“Alright. This is just a casual visit.” 

I took a deep breath before knocking on the heavy wooden door of Killian’s office. I tried not to get carried away by this misplaced euphoria but I couldn’t. My mind kept racing with memories of his presence beside me when I was ill. The way his cold hands cared for me, his willingness to find medicine, and everything else. It was strange how a man so ruthless could be so gentle. 

I could hear Leia cracking jokes at my expense, making my head start to throb. Just as I was about to scold her, the door to Killian’s office finally swung open. The sight inside left me speechless. 

The room was filled with important figures: council members, generals, and other influential people in his kingdom. Their sharp gazes turned toward me, some filled with curiosity, others with disgust. Instinctively, I wanted to retreat, to avoid whatever was happening here. But before I could take a step back, a familiar baritone stopped me. 

“Where do you think you’re going?” 

I gasped, Killian lit his cigar, his crimson eyes commanding without words. 

1-“I stammered, my fingers squeezing around my other arm. “I didn’t know you had guests. I can come back later.” 

“That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” he replied. 

I shook my head, unable to withstand the weight of all the stares directed at me. 

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. I’d rather return another time.” 

Before I could process what was happening, he was already beside me, pulling me into the room with an unyielding grip, leaving me no chance to escape. I had no choice but to follow him. But what humiliated me the most was when he effortlessly pulled me onto his lap completely unfazed by the presence of so many high–ranking officials. 

Heat rushed to my face as I stiffened in his hold. 

“Killian,” I whispered urgently, “What are you doing?!” 

His lips curved into an amused smirk as he adjusted his grip on my waist. 

“As you can see, I’m working.” 

His casual tone irritated me even more. “Anyone can see that. The problem is my current position.” 

“Just ignore them and focus on your king. That should be easier,” he uttered, taking a slow drag from his cigar, smoke curling around him. “What are you all looking at? Keep working!” 

I swallowed hard, resisting the urge to hide my face. The room fell into complete silence. Some men turned away in discomfort, while others dared to watch either with hidden smirks or disapproving gazes–despite Killian’s earlier command. 

One of them, a nobleman I didn’t recognize, let out a mocking laugh. 

“Truly astonishing, indeed,” the man swirled the wine in his goblet. “That His Majesty would take such… an unusual interest in a woman with a tainted past.” 

A suffocating tension filled the air. 

“As your loyal follower, Your Majesty, I must admit I have grave concerns,” he added, his audacity shocking. 

“And what concerns might those be, Lord Volkov?” 

A cold shiver ran down my spine. I wasn’t particularly bothered by the man’s insult. What unsettled me was what would happen next. I grasped Killian’s arm in an attempt to hold him back, but he paid me no heed. 

“Your choice of partner, for instance. Surely, there are more honorable women than… a widow?” 

That was the final blow to Killian’s patience. 

I barely had time to react before he shifted me from his lap. The warmth of his hands on my waist vanished as h toward the nobleman. 

“Pardon me, Lord Volkov. Could you repeat that?” 

His voice dropped to a deadly whisper, laced with the promise of blood. 

The man, finally realizing his mistake, paled an insting 

“Y–Your Majesty. I only meant that-” 

The words never left his mouth. 

Successfully unlocked! 

ved 

With inhuman speed, Killian’s claws lashed out, and in one swift motion, he tore the man’s throat open. A sickening gurgle filled the air before his body collapsed onto the table, blood pooling across the smooth mahogany surface. 

1/2 

Chapter 81: One Death is Nothing 

Choked screams erupted around the room. Someone gasped. Others hurriedly shoved their chairs back in alarm. 

My breath caught in my throat. 

I had witnessed many deaths in my life, but never like this. My heartbeat pounded in my ears as I sat frozen in Killiart’s char my entire body trembling uncontrollably. The crimson stain spreading across the wood, the lifeless body. It overwhelmed my senses, and my stomach churned violently. 

Killian strode back to his seat, wearing his signature charismatic smile. 

“I don’t like repeating myself,” he said casually, wiping his clawed fingers with a handkerchief. “If any of you speak out of turn again, you’ll meet the same fate.” 

Not a single head dared to lift. I could even hear the sound of a pin drop. Then, with a snap of his fingers, he turned to his Beta. 

“Leonidas.” 

Leonidas stepped forward. “Yes, Your Majesty?” 

“Call the servants. Have them clean up this mess.” Killian gestured lazily toward the corpse as if it were nothing more than spilled wine. 

“Understood.” 

The others in the room struggled to conceal their horror. One by one, they muttered hurried excuses about prior engagements, bowing hastily before fleeing. It wasn’t long before we were alone. 

I let out a shaky breath, finally daring to move. “Killian.” 

He turned his attention to me, his crimson eyes gleaming with satisfaction. 

“Yes, little wolf?” 

“Did you… have to kill him?” 

Instead of answering immediately, he stepped closer, wrapping his clean hand around me. His grip on my waist tightened slightly. 

“Yes.” 

A cold sweat trickled down my neck. There wasn’t a trace of regret in his voice. 

I should have been used to this by now. This was the man I had made a deal with, the man who had entwined my fate with his. And yet, as his fingers traced gentle circles along my back, I found myself wondering would there ever come a time when his cruelty no longer surprised me? 

What unsettled me more was the realization that I no longer feared him as I once did. 

Killian moved to stroke my hair. “I’ll be busy for a while. Stay here.” 

“Stay here? In your office?” 

“Would you rather be somewhere else?” His gaze flickered to my lips, and my stomach twisted at the way he looked at me like he was contemplating something far more dangerous than another execution. 

I quickly shook my head. “No, of course not. Being with you is far better.” 

“Ah, such a lovely answer.” A triumphant smirk curled his lips as he leaned in, grazing his teeth lightly against the shell of my ear. “I might have a few ideas to keep you entertained. Care to hear them?” 

2/2