Chapter 73: Retribution

Hades~

The light switched on, and my former Theta entered the room and froze. He dropped his bag and went down on one knee. "Your... Majesty," he stuttered. "You are here."

I looked him over, her words echoing in my head. "Rook," I murmured.

He raised his eyes to me hesitantly. The fear in them was as clear as day, but beneath it, something much more defiant simmered.

"You do know why I am here?" I asked, my voice monotone, my eyes narrowed.

He swallowed. "I know, Your Majesty."

I took in Rook's appearance—disheveled, broken, but still standing. Despite everything, he managed to look me in the eye, though barely. His brother lay behind him, kept alive by the hum of machines, a reminder of both his defiance and his failure.

"Do you know the cost of betrayal?" I asked, my voice cutting through the silence. I let the words hang, knowing he felt every bit of their weight.