Chapter 272: You will all pay.

His head was spinning in complete confusion. What had happened in Rose water was definitely not just physical to him. He had held her like she was the most precious treasure in the nine heavens! He had felt his heart swell so much he thought he was falling completely in love with her!

How could she just brush it off like it was an everyday sparring match? Hunter looked at his own plate of hot food on the table. Suddenly, his stomach twisted, and he lost his appetite entirely.

He didn’t push the topic. Sighing quietly, he turned off the main light, climbed into bed, and pulled the blanket up to his chest. He lay there flat on his back, staring blankly up at the dark ceiling, his mind running in wild circles trying to figure out what was going on inside Zyra’s head.

He turned his head slightly to look at her back, preparing to ask her just one more question.

In the very next minute, a soft, steady snore echoed softly from Zyra’s side of the pillow. She was already fast asleep, completely unbothered.

Hunter switched the light off and blinked into the darkness, letting out a long, helpless groan as he covered his eyes with his arm.

****

The night had been way too long if you asked Sabrina. First, Elliot had stupidly locked himself in the bedroom, refusing to open the door even though his hand was dripping blood all over. It wasn’t until Andrea finally lost her patience and kicked the heavy door right off its hinges that they found him lying unconscious on the rug.

They had rushed his limp body straight to Highwell hospital_ a place ranked as the absolute best in the whole world and very innovative when it came to treatment. It wasn’t just because the doctors there were incredible, but because the hospital relied heavily on advanced Somnivore tech, using top-tier medical machines to patch up even the worst injuries.

Now, morning light was just starting to peek over the horizon. Sabrina had slipped back to the estate to catch her breath, wash the dried blood off her hands, and grab a few clean clothes and supplements for Elliot.

Just as she crossed the main courtyard, she bumped right into the Grand Elder, who was walking out with an entourage, clearly heading for the airfield. Sabrina walked right past him, her eyes fixed straight ahead, and her lips pursed into a thin, bitter line. Walking half a step behind the old man was Alessa, carrying his heavy document bag, her chin held so high her nose was almost pointing at the sky.

The Grand Elder didn’t say a single word. He didn’t even look at her. Sabrina froze mid-step. A wave of fury surged straight to her head. She spun around on her heel.

"Father!" she yelled, her voice ringing across the paved courtyard. "Are you not even going to ask how Elliot is doing?"

The Grand Elder stopped. He slowly turned his head, his eyes cold as ice. "Why on earth should I care about that murderer who has brought shame on our clan?"

Sabrina let out a long, heavy sigh, throwing her face toward the heavens as if asking the ancient gods to grant her patience. "It’s your fault!" she shouted, pointing an accusing finger right at his nose. "What happened to Elliot is entirely your fault! My son could have died last night! You had the power to squash the Cowell family’s claims with a single wave of your hand, but you just sat back and let them hound him!"

The Grand Elder didn’t shout back. Instead, he took three slow, heavy steps forward, closing the distance between them.

Sabrina involuntarily staggered backward, her heart dropping into her stomach. Thick, golden lion fur was actively sprouting across his neck and hands_ a clear sign that his foundational beast-aura was flaring up in raw anger.

He thrust a sharp, clawed finger right in front of her face. "If anything happens to that boy, you look in the mirror and blame yourself!" he growled, his voice rumbling like thunder. "You raised him all wrong! How many times did I warn you about his evil deeds, ah? Fighting in bars, driving while dead drunk, beating up people in the streets! And now? Now he’s started killing people like they’re nothing more than annoying insects!"

The Grand Elder turned his head and spat indignantly onto the green grass. "I am ashamed to even call you my daughter," the old man sneered, his eyes filled with disgust. "The only good thing you have ever done in your entire toxic life is give me a grandson Hunter."

For a second, there was dead silence. Then, Sabrina burst out laughing. It wasn’t a happy laugh. It was a loud, wild, crazy laugh that echoed off the stone walls. "Hunter?" she wheezed, wiping a tear from her eye. "Oh, Father_ one day, you are going to regret those words so much you’ll cough up blood."

Alessa raised one thin eyebrow, holding the document bag a little tighter. "And what is that supposed to mean?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Alessa and the Grand Elder exchanged a quick, uncertain glance. But the old man quickly snorted, waving his beast-furred hand dismissively.

"Ignore your sister," the Grand Elder muttered, shaking his head as if dealing with a child throwing a tantrum. "She’s lost her mind."

He turned on his heel and continued walking toward the waiting car, his red cloak billowed behind him.

Sabrina stayed rooted to the spot, watching his retreating back. "You’ll pay for this!" she screamed after him, her voice cracking with raw emotion. "Old fool! You hear me?! You’re going to pay for every single drop of blood Elliot lost!"

Some of the family members had been standing near the main entrance, watching the entire screaming match unfold like a live drama. Among them was Lita, who kept her head down, carefully blending into the background until the Grand Elder’s car finally went out of sight.

She waited until Sabrina stomped up the marble steps and crossed the threshold into the main house before hurrying in behind her, putting on her absolute best impression of an anxious, heartbroken wife.

"Mother! Please, wait!" Lita called out, rushing forward with her hands clasped against her chest, her eyes wide with carefully practiced worry. "How_ how is my husband doing? Is Elliot going to be okay? I couldn’t sleep a wink all night thinking about him!"

Sabrina whipped around, her face twisting into pure disgust.

"Get your fake sympathy away from me!" She roared, her voice echoing through the grand hallway. "You jinx! Ever since you married into this family, nothing_ absolutely nothing_ has gone right! You brought your bad luck into my son’s life, you low-born trash."

Standing a few steps away, Loveline leaned against a decorative porcelain vase, letting out a loud, mocking chuckle. She threw a thoroughly spiteful look straight at Lita before marching right after Sabrina.

"Oh, ignore the little viper, mother," Loveline purred, leaning in closer with a wide, eager grin. "You know how she is. But tell me, what did the doctors say about brother Elliot’s condition? How is he_"

Sabrina stopped in her tracks and rounded on her next.

"Loveline, shut your mouth and leave me alone!" Sabrina snapped, glaring daggers at her. "I am not in the mood for your endless, poisonous gossip today!"

Loveline recoiled sharply, slapping a hand over her chest in total disbelief, her jaw practically hitting the polished floor. "I_ I was just showing concern!" she gasped, outraged.

Lita, who was still standing by the entrance, had to press a hand over her mouth to muffle the laughter bubbling up in her throat. Watching Loveline get shot down so violently was easily the best part of her morning.

Without another word to either of them, Lita turned on her heel and slipped right back out the front doors into the morning air.

She had a very busy day ahead, and frankly, she didn’t give a single care about how Elliot was faring in that hospital bed. In fact, as far as she was concerned, it would be a big upgrade if she actually became a widow rather than being known as a murderer’s wife.