The mansion had returned to an uneasy calm after the chaos of the Black Dawn raid, though tension lingered in the air. Colette's soldiers were busy repairing the damage and fortifying defenses, while whispers of the attack spread among the ranks. Most of the soldiers were focused on the task at hand, but a few had taken to gossiping, their words dripping with scorn as they gathered in a quiet corner of the barracks.
"Can you believe it?" one guard sneered, his voice low but filled with derision. "The boss's husband, crying like a little bitch after killing someone. What did he think this life was, a fairytale?"
Another guard chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "He's the boss's husband. He should've known what he signed up for. You can't be married to someone like her and not be ready to take a life."
A third guard smirked, leaning against the wall. "He's soft. If it were me, I'd be proud of taking down one of the Black Dawn's commanders. Instead, he's moping in his room. Pathetic."
The group erupted into quiet laughter, their harsh words echoing in the otherwise silent room. But their laughter quickly died when they noticed the sudden drop in temperature. Frost crept along the walls, the air turning so cold their breath became visible.
The room fell silent as a shadow loomed over them.
Colette stood in the doorway, her blue-and-white scales glinting in the dim light. Her wings were partially unfurled, and her sharp blue eyes burned with fury. Her towering figure seemed even more imposing in the confined space, and her tail swished behind her with barely restrained rage.
"What was that you were saying about my husband?" Colette's voice was low and venomous, each word laced with icy menace.
The guards froze, their faces draining of color. One of them stammered, "B-boss, we didn't mean—"
"Silence." Her voice cut through the air like a blade, and the guards immediately clamped their mouths shut, their eyes wide with terror.
Colette stepped forward, her claws flexing. "You dared to insult him? You think you have the right to mock my husband, after what he's been through? After what he did to save Oakley and protect this mansion?"
The guards tried to back away, but Colette moved faster. In a blur of motion, she grabbed the first guard by the collar, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. He struggled, but her grip was unyielding.
"You're lucky Kent isn't here to hear this," she snarled, her sharp teeth bared. "Because if he were, you wouldn't even have a chance to apologize."
With that, she drove her clawed hand into his face, gouging out both of his eyes in a single, brutal motion. The man screamed in agony, his cries echoing through the barracks as blood streamed down his face.
The other guards tried to flee, but Colette was faster. She slammed her tail into the legs of the second guard, sending him crashing to the ground. Before he could even attempt to crawl away, she grabbed his legs and tore them off with a sickening crunch. His screams joined those of his comrade, filling the room with a cacophony of pain.
The third guard, paralyzed with fear, tried to beg for mercy. "P-please, boss, I didn't mean it—"
Colette rounded on him, her icy glare cutting him off. "You didn't mean it? You think you can disrespect my husband and get away with it?" She grabbed him by the arm, twisting it until it snapped. The guard collapsed, clutching his mangled limb and sobbing.
She stood over the broken men, her breath visible in the freezing air as she spoke. "Let this be a lesson to everyone. My husband is off-limits. If I hear so much as a whisper of disrespect toward him again, the punishment will be worse than this."
Her voice carried through the barracks, ensuring that everyone nearby heard her warning. Satisfied, she turned and stormed out, her tail swishing behind her as the frost began to melt. The guards who had been watching from a distance scattered, their fear palpable.
Later, Colette returned to her office, her fury still simmering but tempered by the satisfaction of having dealt with the offenders. She knew her actions would send a clear message: Kent was not to be touched, insulted, or even thought of negatively. He was hers, and anyone who dared disrespect him would face her full wrath.
As she sat at her desk, she let out a slow breath, her mind shifting back to Kent. She'd have to find a way to ease his pain soon. But for now, she'd ensured that no one would ever dare make him feel lesser in her world again.