Beauty in the beast world-Chapter 324: Death or not?

[A few hours before]

Xavier left to find Lyra as soon as her mates started to act weird. He was not about to take any chance by waiting while she was probably in danger, "You are making me do weird things, pretty female" he murmured to himself. She was compelling him to do things he had never done before. It was as though his fate was sealed the day he saw her. He still remembered it, she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Even while she cried to him to save her offspring, she looked radiant. Everything else faded into the background as soon as she entered the picture. His life till then seemed dull and bleak. She was like a bolt of lightning that struck him back to life.

All his life, he had felt like he was breathing because he was supposed to, walked because it was expected, and talked because that was the least he could do to stay polite. It was his fate to be overly pleasing to strangers as he was an illegitimate cub who was born through tragedy. He was only a young cub but was hated by everyone, even his own father. The only one amongst them who showed him Kindness, though, was the woman who was most wronged by his birth, his father’s true mate. She never blamed him for anything, but that only made him even more guilt-filled.

The only one in his life other than that woman who made him feel some kind of emotion was his pretty female. And Xavier wanted to experience that emotion more and continue it for the rest of his being. He didn’t care who agreed with it or not, Lyra was his. No one would deny this fact, not even his pretty female herself.

He reached the Eagle castle faster than he thought but the next instant, he felt displeasure when he didn’t sense Lyra inside. Her scent was barely present like she had just left the palace. He felt frustration build up as he imagined her already reunited with her no-good mates. Between his musing, though, his gaze fell on a commotion happening near the castle’s entrance.

Alice tried hard to shake off the hand that held her shoulder, "Let me go! Let my hand go, you bastards! I swear you will pay for this!" Anger and rage filled her. She wanted to holler at all who were treating her like she was some kind of a criminal. Nathan that bastard.....he was a bane of her existence. He had always been the biggest obstacle against her revenge on Kyrell.

And again, after handing her over to his loyal soldiers, he left because he heard his King being in danger. Alice hoped his beloved King died before Nathan could reach him. She hoped at least he gets gravely injured by that bitch’s mates.

The elders standing around her looked uncertain about the rough treatment she was receiving from the soldiers, but they were too much of cowards to go against the orders of Nathan.....who worked under Kyrell. Alice had no one in her support. Her father had disappeared to God knows where, and all of her mates were either killed or imprisoned; Alice was feeling defeat creeping in but refused to admit it. She was a female; it didn’t matter how but she somehow intended to use it to get free.

Even if Kyrell insisted on killing her regardless of her pleas, he would definitely face backlash from his tribesmen. He would lose support in the court, and it would become difficult for his beloved to earn their support as their Queen. Alice would have no regrets about either of the results. That thought made her melancholic; she started to remember her late brother, her mother, and her life till now. But her thoughts, though, came to a forcing halt when she felt someone’s gaze on her.

"Your majesty." The elders bowed, and the soldiers kneeled as soon as they saw Xavier, the Fox king. Alice saw in confusion as the latter walked towards them like he wanted to rip everyone apart in his way.

"What is happening here?" He asked turning his attention to the elders. The group looked visibly uncomfortable by his presence but answered nonetheless, "This female is to be presented in the trial by the orders of our king, his majesty." They dared not question his presence inside their tribe while their king was absent.

Xavier nodded and turned his gaze back to her. His eerie dual-hued eyes gave Alice chills, "And what was her crime?"

One of the elders answered, "She committed high treason by trying to hurt his majesty and Queen Lyra"

Xavier clenched his jaws, "It was you?" He asked that in a tone addressing Alice as though she was nothing but a bug beneath his boots, "You.....you were the one that hurt my female?"

That sentence made Alice take a step back, but she couldn’t go anywhere because of the guards holding her. She felt vulnerable and panicked as Xavier continued, "You shouldn’t have done that. Female...", he quickly turned to the guard, "What is her name?"

"Lady Alice..."

Xavier turned back before the former could finish, "Female Alice, you shouldn’t have done that"

Alice felt her hands shudder as she saw him grin, and before she could think, something cold enclosed her throat. She felt the guards instinctively release her hands and step back. Her breathing got labored and difficult as some kind of suffocating fog covered her. Through the fog, she could make out Xavier’s silhouette. He looked leisurely with his hands behind his back and his neck tilted to the side.

He observed her like she was some kind of experiment and with every movement he did, she felt something sharp and cold getting closer to her throat.

"This will be your lesson, Alice. Don’t you ever repeat it again, you do not touch what is mine. Never"

Alice managed to force out some words hearing his warning. She thought he could forgive her this time, "I promise...I will never do it again. Please don’t kill me." Now that she was facing death, her nonchalant and brave facade came crumbling down, "Once...please show me mercy this once." Her heartfelt pleading seemed to amuse Xavier.

He laughed at her, loudly, clearly, mockingly, "What made you think I would show you any kind mercy? Female, you are dimmer than I thought"

Alice bawled out, and her sobs reached everyone except Xavier. He looked unaffected as she yelled, "You said this was my lesson; you said not to do it again. I thought you were giving me a chance, Your Majesty, please, please....forgive me; I will never touch the Lady Lyra again. Please!"

Xavier clicked his tongue, "You are no fun, female. I thought you understood my words, but clearly, I was wrong. I said that as a formality"

Alice couldn’t believe her ears, "Formality?"

"Yes," he nodded enthusiastically, "I said that to ease my conscience; I do this every time I kill someone. Giving hope to the one who is about to die is kind of a ritual that I follow. It is fun seeing that person’s world crumble down with my words alone"

Alice felt tears stream down her face. Fun? Ritual? Formality? The man standing before her was not normal. He was a monster that felt no emotions or empathy. Lyra.....this monster was interested in that woman? A smile crept up her lips. Her revenge and her hard work would not go to waste after all. This monster in that woman’s life was enough, her goal was complete. The Kyrell she knew would never allow someone like this in his beloved’s life.

Death was fast and swift after she accepted her fate. She felt her head tearing apart with sharp icicles plunging into her neck. Alice closed her eyes for the last time while Xavier picked up the fallen head.