Chapter 89 Chapter 88

Chapter 89 Chapter 88
"A lot of things. The king has given you up to me, which means I get to do whatever I want." Then she stopped, taking a step into the cell. All of her anger seeping to the surface, she glared at Gavin. "Thanks to your greed, I lost the king's child. No words will be able to explain the hurt that I felt at the moment. Tomorrow will be your sentence day but I thought I should give you a bit of a headstart on what your punishment will be like first."

Another step. "You wanted to usurp my husband's throne, how about I take you away from the surface of the earth first? I've killed your daughter, it won't be hard to do the same to the father." Raising a hand, she beckoned on one of the soldiers that came with her. He immediately walked towards her. "Take him out of his chains." She ordered coldly.

Gavin watched with widened eyes as they removed him from the chains that held him bound. " Let go of me! W-what are you planning to do with me!" He growled as he struggled against them. They laid him facedown on the ground. "Let go...hmph!" He groaned as one of the disgusted soldiers kicked him in the stomach.

Other than the evil glint in Maya's eyes, her face betrayed no other emotions. "Let's start light, shall we?" She muttered in a low time. Turning to one of the soldiers, she uttered "Smash his fingers and toes."

Maya saw him pale and he soon resumed his struggles. "You can't do this! You'll never get away with this!" He screamed in a voice so scratchy, Maya was sure his throat would be bleeding. Neither of them paid him any heed as the instructed guard went to retrieve a hammer, another set on stretching out his hands and feet, rendering him immobile.

"It was with those disgusting fingers you used to hit me, I'll make sure it never happens again." She muttered. Maya watched as the hammer was raised high in the air before going down with a swing. She heard the nauseating crunch of bones breaking and blood splattered on the floor, followed by Gavin's anguish-filled wails. His cries were filled with obscenities as he writhed on the floor.

"This will teach you and anyone else never to lay a hand on me ever again." Maya spat viciously, glowering. She waited until his cries subsided before a sardonic smile crossed her lips again. "How about we step that up?" She asked
Gavin began to shake his head, panic-stricken. It only pleased Maya the more. "Please, he begged. Have mercy. You're going to kill me anyway." He croaked.

"You deserve to leave the world painfully." That was all Maya said as they proceeded to the next stage. "Hurt him well enough, but don't kill him. I need him alive for his sentence tomorrow." She instructed the guards who were present. She turned around.

"No, please! Come back!! I apologize for everything that I did." Gavin pleas followed her as she walked out of the dungeons but Maya was past caring. This would be the very last time anyone would try to hurt her again.
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The very next day, Gavin was dragged out like a criminal to the Royal council where he was judged for his crimes. Maya and Dexter both sat on their thrones, watching as the noblemen gave their verdict. Although Dexter was surprised at the state Gavin was in when he was brought before the council, he didn't bother questioning Maya about it. Every member of the council agreed that he should be beheaded at the kingdom's outskirts and his properties seized. Once the verdict was raised, Gavin was dragged out like a criminal to the kingdom's outskirts.

The atmosphere was grave as they lead Gavin to the spot where he would be beheaded. With an impassive look on, Maya watched as Gavin's head was separated from his body. After the beheading, his body was meant to stay there for a couple more days, to serve as a warning to anyone who would try to use something similar to the kingdom. By sundown, they had returned back to the palace where Maya went straight to the king's chambers, with Dexter right behind her.

Her muscles stiff with tension, Maya made to ease them by massaging it, all of her anger exhausted. She heard footsteps approaching her. "You know, killing Gavin is not going to make you feel better." Dexter's voice came above her. She paused, looking up at him. He seemed to be speaking from experience.
"No, it won't. But it would give me the closure I need." She replied. Dexter's hands went up to rest on hers that was placed her shoulders. "It's okay, I won't let anything happen to you again. It's going on be okay from now on." He promised, that gentle look back in his eyes. Maya let out a deep breath, her shoulders sagging. Instinctively she leaned towards him and felt him wrap his hands around her. She lifted hers and wrapped it around his waist.
They stayed liked that for a while, not saying anything. Very gently, he began to pat her back. "I'll do everything I can to protect you. I love you." He muttered. Maya closed her eyes, listening to his steady heartbeat. She let his comforting words wash off her anxiety as her hold tightened on him.

"I love you too." She whispered back.
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(A month later)

Normalcy finally settled back to the kingdom after Gavin's death. The Royal family focused on the duties important to them and assumed their roles in governing the kingdom and the ones they had undoubtedly conquered. Maya quickly realised that being a queen wasn't as easy as she had imagined it to be. Apart from managing the castle and it's many workers, she also had to see to the foreign dignitaries that came to see the king. Since it was still winter, there were very little banquets held in the castle but once spring arrived, things would change drastically.

As exhausting as her job was, Maya barely felt tired from it due to the support she had from Dexter. He was patient with her, taking his time to explain things to her and hiring the best hands. She's now more assertive and her decision making skills had improved during that short period. A new love had grown and she had always caught herself doing her duties with passion she never knew existed. Though the couples barely saw each other once they parted ways in the morning, Dexter always made it up to her by occasionally taking her for walks and having dinner with her. It had become her favorite part of the day.