Page 98 of The Hyena’s Guardian
Matt stepped closer before the conversation could spiral into another ancient-alpha dominance contest. “Okay. Let’s focus on the practical details before the mountain releases an undead werewolf army.”
Baptiste nodded once toward Theron. “Tell us what has to happen.”
Theron looked back toward the carvings.
“The First King’s body lies beneath the central throne chamber at the lowest point of the mountain. The tomb network surrounding him acts as both prison and shield.”
Concern crossed his face. “Meaning?”
“Meaning you cannot destroy him while the mountain remains intact,” Theron said. “And you cannot destroy the mountain while he remains bound to it.”
Matt blinked. “That feels aggressively inconvenient.”
“It was designed that way.”
Vale crossed her arms. “So what breaks the connection?”
Theron hesitated. Matt noticed. “So that’s the bad part,” he said.
Theron ignored him. “The original sealing ritual relied on blood from the First King’s line.”
Baptiste went still.
Vale’s eyes narrowed. “Yours.”
Theron nodded once.
Cold dread dropped through Matt. “No.”
Every head turned toward him. He did not care.
“No,” Matt repeated, stepping closer to Theron. “Absolutely not.”
Theron’s expression barely shifted. “Matt…”
“No. You don’t get to casually drop blood sacrifice into the conversation like we’re discussing weather conditions.”
“It is not a sacrifice.”
“That sounds exactly like something said right before a sacrifice.”
Several agents shifted uneasily. Matt was relieved someone else finally appreciated how insane the conversation had become.
Theron’s gaze remained steady on him. “My blood is required to reopen the heart seal beneath the mountain.”
Matt folded his arms. “And what happens after that?”
Theron hesitated, and Matt’s body went rigid. “What happens after that, Theron?”
The hesitation answered before the words did. “The seal destabilizes,” Theron admitted. “The mountain begins collapsing inward.”
Matt stared at him. “And where are you during this collapse?”
“Matt.”
“Where are you?”
Theron’s jaw tightened. “At the center.”
