The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven) novel Chapter 477

Chapter 477 George’s Man

Hugmuinn froze the moment he heard voices from the room ahead, holding his breath and suppressing every trace of his presence. ‘Kill the child? A child? Benedict?

He already knew from the reports on his way to Sunset Empire that Benedict had been critically wounded near Indigo Lab, and was now barely clinging to life inside Raven’s Ring of Life.

‘Could Thorian have had something to do with that? Hugmuinn’s thoughts were racing. ‘But why? Thorian has always been fiercely loyal to Raven–why would he try to kill Benedict? There has to be some kind of misunderstanding.

Hugmuinn had worked with Thorian for years, and he didn’t want to jump to dark conclusions.

But then came Thorian’s voice, calm and cold:

“I stabbed him straight through the heart. He’s not going to make it.”

Oakley chuckled, “Good. That puts my mind at ease. I knew you were the perfect partner. You haven’t let me down.”

Thorian’s face darkened at that. “Partner? Don’t flatter yourself. I didn’t do this for you. I just couldn’t stand seeing Cassian near the Palace Mistress anymore. That’s the only reason. I’ve never done anything to harm Raven.”

“Oh? But you already betrayed her,” Oakley said, voice smooth and poisonous. “If she finds out-*

“Shut up,” Thorian snapped, eyes burning with rage. He glared at Oakley beside the bed.

He said, “Even if Benedict somehow survives, he won’t last long. Unless someone brings him back from the dead, there’s no way Raven will ever learn I was the one who hurt him.

“I never wanted to betray her. Everything–you, you–you’re the one who set it all in motion. You framed Hugmuinn’s brother, kidnapped him to force Hugmuinn into working for you, and…”

“What?” Hugmuinn’s voice was barely a whisper, but it shattered the silence inside his mind.

The rest of Thorian’s words blurred into a haze. His eyes widened, overflowing with disbelief.

‘My brother… My brother didn’t just make enemies–he was framed? Set up by that man? And kidnapped?‘

No wonder he hadn’t been able to reach him for days.

Hugmuinn had assumed his brother was avoiding him out of guilt. But the truth was far worse. He had been taken.

And now Thorian–Thorian, his friend of so many years–was with the man who did it?

‘Damn him. After everything we’ve been through–this is what he does? Siding with the one who hurt my brother? While Raven is out there desperately searching for Cassian, and he’s the one standing in her way?”

No. Whatever Thorian’s reason, this had gone too far. He had to tell Raven. Immediately.

“Who’s out there?” The sudden voice lashed through the air like a whip.

A moment later, the door burst open from the inside.

Oakley’s eyes locked onto Hugmuinn’s.

For a second, Hugmuinn froze–then his gaze darted to the hospital bed, where Thorian, very much awake, was staring back at him warily.