Chapter 131 Chapter-131

Chapter 131 Chapter-131

Raven's POV

The basement was a maze of identical doors. The left side held the prisoner cells, while the right stretched into a long, closed corridor. I didn't need a map. I just followed the heavy thuds echoing through the basement.

Finally, I reached a door from which voices were coming. I opened it and stepped into a massive, fully equipped training room. Rows of punching bags hung from the iron chains. Heavy weights and steel benches were scattered across the space. Mirrored walls reflected everything. But my attention shifted immediately to the boxing ring at the center.

Magnus was inside the ring with one of the guards. It was less of a fight and more of a brutal beating. He was punching with terrifying, unrelenting strength. Four other guards sat on a bench just outside the ring, panting and covered in blood and dark bruises.

Magnus suddenly froze. He stopped mid-swing and turned his head toward me. His bloodshot eyes locked onto mine.

His angry stare carried more weight than the punches he was throwing. I forced myself to stand straight and hold eye contact, but the intensity of his glare made it nearly impossible.

We were so focused on each other that the bleeding guard in the ring took advantage of the distraction. He lunged forward, throwing a desperate punch at Magnus's head. Magnus didn't even flinch. He blocked the heavy strike with his forearm casually, his eyes still fixed entirely on me. Magnus punched the guard right in the jaw with an uppercut. There was a loud, nasty crack, and the guy was knocked out cold onto the mat.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and pretended his attention didn't make my pulse stumble. Why was he so furious? Was this blind rage about what happened at the lake with Zayne, or about Council politics? Or maybe it was about his new fiancée. A sharp pang of jealousy hit me. Maybe he was just stressed about marrying his perfect future Queen.

I pushed all those thoughts aside and walked up to the edge of the boxing ring, stopping right outside the ropes. The guard he had just beaten up was struggling to stand. The guy looked completely exhausted and miserable, but he was still trying to get back to Magnus.

“Are they just punching bags for whatever is actually bugging you?” I asked.

Magnus slowly dropped his hands. He took a deep breath, grabbed a towel from a maid, and wiped the sweat off his neck. He completely ignored me. The insult hurt, but I lifted my chin, hid the pain, and let my stubborn pride take over. The longer he ignored me, the angrier I became.

"Why don't you fight me instead?" I challenged.

He stopped wiping his neck and let out a mean laugh. “I prefer to spend my energy on a real challenge, Raven.”

Anger flared instantly. "So you're saying I'm too weak for you?"

I didn't bother waiting. I ducked under the ropes and stepped right onto the mat, right into his space.

“Let's make a deal, Magnus,” I snapped at him, challenging him.

"Let's see who ends up on the floor," I said as a maid handed me some gloves. I took them and strapped them on.

I didn't wait for him to say yes. I struck before he could react, driving a jab toward his face.