The royal beast palace was in uproar.

News screens across the kingdom replayed the shocking scene from the amusement park, from the assassination to the fight and final death scene of the assassin. Most of the scenes focused on the moment Sienna was clawed, her blood splashing and the cubs screaming.

On the BeastNet, there were claims that she had already died.

Advisors in the royal hall clutched their robes, voices rising like panicked birds.

"This is war!" A penguin beast man cried, slamming his hands on the jade table. "The fox lord will not forgive the eagle tribe. It is one thing to attack him but another to go after a cub. Foxes will be marching before dawn!"

A deer beast man wrung his hands. "Not just any cub but the heir to the leadership of the fox tribe. If his mother had not blocked the strike, the cub...." he stopped, shaking his head in horror. "That strike was designed to kill, not injure."

"If Elias moves, the eagle tribe will have no choice but to retaliate. An all out war that will destroy every city between them and shatter the balance of the beast tribes." Another said,

One of the king’s younger brothers was in the meeting. He was Lenard, a lion with a mane of silver that was rare in their lineage. His eyes were sharp, his mental strength SS rank and his cunning, strong. He was a planner for the royal family, one of those who were tasked with eliminating the remnants of the rebel faction. From where he was leaning against a pillar, he said, "You underestimate the fox lord, He will not just march. He will slaughter. There is a reason why Elias Veythar is feared and the Veythar house has ruled the foxes with a firm hand for over five hundred years. Once Elias begins his slaughter, no one will stop him."

The king remained silent. All eagle assassins had been captured, even the last one. So where had this one come from?

The queen rose, her crimson gown whispering across the marble floor. He voice was calm, but her eyes burned. "We are the royal family, the true rulers of this empire. If others cannot stop Elias, we have to. An all out war and senseless slaughter is not how this matter should be handled. We must send out soldiers from the royal army to surround the Veythar estate, the beach compound and the hospital.

Dispatch and envoy from the family to soothe his rage and show the Veythar’s that we are standing with him and equally horrified. And you--" she pointed to Lenard, "you will go yourself. No one is best suited to be a buffer than you. Keep watch over Elias. Follow him to the bathroom if you must. Stall him until we uncover who sent the assassin."

The advisors bowed, though their faces were pale. None envied Lenard because standing before the cold fox lord on a normal day was bad enough. Imagine standing before him tonight!

"This could have been easier if they didn’t kill the assassin outright." The queen muttered. None the less, as long as they had an identity, they could put the puzzle together. If they failed, they would just dump the blame on the former eagle lord. The dead could not defend themselves anyway.

If it stopped a war, then the small lie was worth it.

Meanwhile, in the hospital, chaos reigned. Doctors and nurses rushed through the corridor, blood smeared on their hands and clothes. Some carried blood bags, bandages, salves. The cubs were sobbing louder, the sight of all that blood scaring them.

Elias had left them in the care of his brothers and entered the operation room. He was standing behind a mirror in the observation area, with Timothy at his side. His claws tapped against the glass, each strike a promise of death. "Eagles." he whispered, the word dripping venom. They dared to touch his son. They dared to touch his wife.

"My lord, you can’t go after the elders of the eagle tribe." Timothy trembled. "The palace will intervene. If you act rashly before---"

Elias turned, eyes like shards of ice. "Rashly? Look at the blood my wife is losing. I will make them lose double. I will make them bleed until their blood forms rivers."

Timothy fell silent, knowing further words would be wasted.

***

Outside the hospital, the royal army arrived, their banners fluttering on flying ships and cars. Soldiers lined the street around the hospital, forming a wall of steel around it. All incoming patients were diverted, unless it was an emergency. Citizens whispered as they kept a distance, sensing the storm brewing. Others captured videos to share on the BeastNet.

People wanted answers, but the royal press office was silent.

Lenard entered the hospital with another group of armed soldiers. He paused by the cubs, looking at them with pity. He nodded at the Veythar brothers, and made his way to the observation area.

"No." Elias said, without turning his head.

Lenard sat down in one of the seats, his golden eyes looking down at Sienna’s body that was crowded by doctors and nurses. "I am sorry about what happened. I hope she pulls through."

Elias clenched his jaw. "Go back to Serenya and tell her she cannot stop what’s coming to the eagles. I will slaughter as many of them as I wish until they learn not to cross me ever again."

"You are making this about you." Lenard crossed one leg over the other, leaning back. "You are angry because one eagle struck your wife. Almost killed your son. If you go to war, how many children and mothers will die? They didn’t do this to you. Not every eagle beast man schemed against you.

Their former lord schemed against the royal family many times. Have you ever seen us wiping out the entire eagle tribe in response? Every debt has its debtor. We are outraged for you and we all want someone to pay. But, it has to be the right someone."

Elias looked at him once, flashing his cold, wrath filled eyes at Lenard.

The lion did not flinch. "Think about it Elias, if you declare war, we will give you some leeway. But the moment innocent citizens begin crying out for us to step in, we will have no choice but to retaliate and put you down. It will affect you and your whole family. Will it be better for your wife to open her eyes and find you next to her or some deep hole in a prison?"