Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Brothers Betray Brothers

Silas’s POV

I could see the exact moment Thorne recognized me!

I was the royal pharmacist of the Valerion Empire. I had a mental breakdown years back and got shipped off to a sanatorium in the Voidferal Feral Territory.

How the hell did this animal know who I was? And when he mentioned "wife"—was he talking about Elara?

When did that worthless woman with no spiritual power get tangled up with a psychopath like him? Thorne thought.

Thorne was seething with fury. That damn Elara! Everything connected to her brings nothing but trouble!

Those bounty hunters are completely useless!

Thorne thought, "If I survive this, I swear I’ll flay Elara alive and get revenge for my brother!"

"Gentlemen," I said, keeping my voice silky smooth. "Since you’re conscious, why not join the conversation? Playing dead on my floor is rather rude."

I spun around, my icy stare finding Thorne, who was still faking unconsciousness...

Before he could utter a word, I cut him off.

"I know exactly who you are," I said, my tone deceptively casual.

"You’re my wife’s former husband, correct? You despised her for lacking spiritual power and drained her bank account dry. You abandoned her when her family cast her out. You screwed around with her cousin while degrading her, shoved her to the ground publicly to force a divorce. And now you’ve put a price on her head."

My voice dropped to a bone-chilling whisper. "Thorne... do you honestly believe garbage like you deserves to call themselves Purifiers of the Valerion Empire?"

I always made certain people understood exactly why they were about to die.

"What’s the problem with dumping a woman who has no spiritual power?" Jasper suddenly yelled from the floor, his voice trembling. "A woman who can’t calm a man is useless! Should we have stayed married and ended up in the Voidferal Feral Territory like you?"

His confidence grew as he continued talking, voice getting louder, "You murdered a Purifier of the Valerion Empire! Do you realize what you’ve done? Do you understand what Purifiers represent in this empire?"

Jasper kept ranting, completely ignoring Thorne’s frantic signals to stop talking. He acted like Thorne was invisible.

Only when Thorne exploded, "Shut your damn mouth!" did Jasper finally pause. He whirled toward Thorne with anger.

"Thorne, what are you so terrified of? We’re Purifiers of the Valerion Empire! The empire will shield us! He murdered Vance! Are you just going to stand there watching? Vance’s dead because of you! All those plans were your doing, weren’t they?"

"Shut up!" Thorne screamed, his skull pounding. He wanted to throttle his moron brother right there.

"I won’t!" Jasper fired back. "What’s so special about that woman? We’re married to Beatrix now, but you still placed a bounty on Elara! Now she’s sent someone to hunt us, and you’re cowering like a coward? That was your own brother who died!"

"I said shut up!" Thorne roared.

Trevor moved forward and slapped Thorne so viciously that he spat out a tooth, nearly losing consciousness.

I wrinkled my nose in revulsion, then turned my attention to Jasper.

"I assumed you were equally stupid," I said calmly. "Turns out you’re clever enough to save your own hide..."

Thorne’s eyes went wide with terror as he caught the guilt flickering across Jasper’ face!

So Jasper had planned this whole thing? He sold out his own brother to survive?

"I’m your older brother! Your own flesh and blood!" Thorne gasped. "How could you betray me? Don’t pretend you never wanted Elara yourself! You built that cage! And now you’re saying this? Jasper, you’re revolting..."

Jasper curled up on the floor, weeping and sniveling, unable to meet Thorne’s gaze. He didn’t want to die.

Terror, hysteria, and the desperate hunger to live wiped out all family bonds. The man standing before them was a monster. The only escape was sacrificing Thorne. It was his sole opportunity...

But he was mistaken.

I lit a cigarette. Watching them betray each other wasn’t even amusing.

Ah, my darling is too merciful. She allows scum like this to breathe too long. Not me. I’m the ruthless one.

Trevor stepped closer. He looked up and caught my lethal glare.

"It’s been a while," I said, blowing out smoke. "Seems your brain’s gotten sluggish. But you acted properly earlier, so I’ll overlook it."

I exhaled another cloud and spoke casually, "Forget the hanging. Execute them all. Including every fool who accepted that bounty."

I glanced sideways at Trevor. "If any of those idiots get within a mile of my darling, you know your orders."

Trevor wiped perspiration from his brow. Of course he understood.

And he knew exactly what I meant by "acted properly"—he’d been wise enough to treat Elara with respect earlier. Otherwise, he’d be sprawled on that floor right now, too.

As Thorne and Jasper’ shrieks echoed through the room, I strolled out calmly, carrying a box of fresh lava cake.

That incompetent fool’s desserts can’t match mine.

I didn’t return to the Voidferal Feral Territory until after midnight.

I took a quick rinse outside to wash off the blood, then crept silently back into Elara’s room.

Elara was sleeping peacefully, curled up in bed. She shifted slightly when she heard the door creak open.

"Si?" she whispered drowsily.

"Mmm," I murmured softly.

I stripped quickly and slipped under the covers. I wrapped my arm around her and drew her against me. I planted gentle, lingering kisses everywhere—from her forehead down to the curve of her throat.

Elara made a soft sound and tried to push me away, but her hand touched something cold on her finger.