The Almighty Dominance

Chapter 425

The shot tore through Alfred's shoulder. He folded, a raw sound ripping from his chest.

Jessica's scream tore through the air, raw and panicked, her eyes locked on her husband as crimson spread across his shirt like wildfire.

"How dare you shoot him? He's Jasmine Kingston's father-Governor of Los Angeles."

The guard's lip curled. He fired again into Alfred's other shoulder without hesitation. "Tell me I don't have the nerve," he said.

"Say it, and I'll keep firing until he's dead. The only reason I haven't killed you both is because you're a governor's family," he added coldly. "Otherwise you'd already be dead."

Jessica's face went white with fury and shame.

"How dare you!" she spat, lunging at the guard with flailing arms.

The guard didn't hesitate. He fired into Jessica's arms and both thighs. She collapsed, limbs useless, a scream tearing from her throat.

"I told you don't move."

"You shot a woman?" Alfred gasped through the intake of pain.

"What? Not agree? Then I'll shoot a man," the guard said, and emptied his pistol into Alfred's arms and both knees.

"I heard you order your general to move the troops and shoot innocent people - you should feel that pain too."

Alfred moaned, pain ripping through him as he crumpled to the floor.

"You'll die for this!" he roared, voice raw and broken. "I'm the governor-Los Angeles, Vancouver-who the hell do you think you are? You'll answer for this. Mark my words: your whole family will die!"

The guard stepped close, calm as a judge. He intoned, almost chanting, "Only to the True Source do I bow. I fear neither gods nor demons."

He slapped Alfred hard across the face.

The crack of the blow snapped something awake inside Alfred—an oath remembered from his first Kingswell initiation.

"You-" Alfred stammered, raw panic blooming. "You're with the Kingswell."

The guard drove a fist into Alfred's nose. Bone splintered; blood poured down his

lip.

"The king sends a message," the guard hissed.

"How dare you strike Jasmine until her throat nearly broke. If you kill her, the Kingston line-three generations up and down-will be erased."

"You and your family only live because Jasmine lives," he said, hammering Alfred's face again.

"Who do you think you are, acting like this? If the king wants you gone, you and Logan can be killed at any moment. You're not mighty. You're nothing."

The guard's slap cracked like a board. Alfred's front teeth shattered and rained down across his bleeding lip.

"Next time, you ungrateful bastard," the guard spat, pressing his boot into Alfred's face.

"Learn gratitude. Keep that arrogant face hidden. And if anything happens to Jessica again, you won't live to regret it—you'll be dead."

Alfred was a wreck of pain and disbelief.

defy the king-drowned under the roar of agony and the sting of

for a breath, the

governors and courts alike. He could erase Alfred and Logan with a flick-had

as a mouse beneath a

to be humble if you want to survive, Alfred Kingston. You are nowhere near as big as you

the dirt with a force that could have crushed

shallow, pain flaring—and knew if

I'm sorry," Alfred croaked at

— take them to the hospital. The king has warned; let this be their final lesson. If they don't learn, there'll be no place left for them on this

not far off, felt the ground shift

them either. He had watched his father fall—watched

calamity comes, it comes like

to disappear before the search for the

Knight dropped to one knee before Alex, his face set like carved granite, every line

he said. "I apologize for my daughter's actions. My line has served the Majestic for generations. We honor that

Mr. Knight," Alex said. "Kelly is like a sister to

young master," Keaton answered, relief barely under the

are digging for answers. I need someone I trust to hold this country steady-use it as a base to reach others. Can you do

your will is my command," Keaton said,

take Los Angeles," Alex ordered. "Raise it. Keep the peace. I'll

Keaton bowed low.

and launched into the

through the darkness toward Vancouver, back to his small clinic-alone beneath

belongs to s

bit far away outside the clinic, his

gravel.

he truly meant to leave the country, to step into the wider

watch over it

and Keaton the strongest in the land after him-his country

belongs to s

think of children-an heir to carry

was gone.

wanted to face them with pride, knowing their bloodline would not end with

known, only

joyful, and radiant even in the darkest hours. She had

with every fiber of his being she'd make a good wife, a kind mother, a woman born of love and

the best choice-her kindness had no

steady With this, propose to Josephine-make her my wife, the

be waiting

reached the

already there, sitting on the chair

lit

as the clear

I've been

sparkling.

a soft smile, reaching out to

touched, he felt it—something

threading itself

something to tell you," they both blurted at the same

stopped, surprised, staring