All the subordinates he had brought along had lain entombed beneath the mountain, leaving him utterly alone. Facing the united force of Death Thorn and Blaze Wraith, the truth struck him like a blade to the gut—he should have run instead of announcing himself.

Yet, just now, his hunger for the Sovereign’s Orb had devoured his reason, blinding him to everything else. Right now, as the weight of reality sank in, a chill sweat coated his back. In his condition, he knew that if Elliana and Cole decided he should die, ending him would be no harder than stepping on an insect. His only chance was to flee, survive, and return for the Sovereign’s Orb when his strength was restored.

With that grim resolve, Miguel turned sharply to leave.

“Wait.” Elliana’s voice rang out, smooth and mocking.

“Did you really think you could just walk away?”

Miguel spun back toward her, his expression hardening into ice.

“What? You plan to kill me?”

“Why not?” she shot back without hesitation.

“Give me one good reason to let a monster like you live. I let you go now so you can recover and come back for the Sovereign’s Orb? So you can try to enslave me in the future? Should I forgive you for what you did to my mother? Or how you tried to murder my father and brother?”

As Elliana spoke, she handed her daughter and the Sovereign’s Orb to Cole. Then she stepped forward, rolling up her sleeves and cracking her knuckles—each motion deliberate, final. The meaning was unmistakable. She was ready to finish Miguel.

Panic flared in Miguel’s eyes as he stumbled back.

“Elliana, I never harmed your mother! I loved her—more than anyone! I cherished her!”

“Love?” Elliana’s voice dripped with venom.

“You call it love when you drove my mother to throw herself into the sea?” Her sneer deepened as she advanced, closing in with every step he took backward.

?tｅt ? ? gαlnovels.ｃοm

The memory of Rita’s desperate leap stabbed through Miguel’s mind, forcing his eyes shut in torment.

“I never thought she’d do that,” he rasped.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her—I only wanted her to stay by my side. It was her choice to leave me in such a cruel way.”

“Spare me your excuses!” Elliana’s voice cracked like a whip, every word a strike of fury. Her patience snapped. Her eyes burned with lethal focus.

“Miguel, for the harm you inflicted upon my family and the threat you posed to the Griffiths family, I will ensure you don’t get to leave here alive.”

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