"Wait, brothers," Balak said sharply. "Have you forgotten that Ida would never betray Samar? She loves him too much to betray him. Even though she is not bound to one mate, she still refuses to move on. This plan is impossible, Mathias. We would be walking straight into our doom."
All the brothers except Mathias looked confused. Some of them were already beginning to lose hope about using Ida to destroy Samar.
Barnabas spoke next, his voice slow and heavy. "And even if we find a way to destroy him, remember the prophecy. Samar cannot truly be killed. He will be reborn—twice as powerful and far more terrifying than before. He is the only demon who cannot die."
"And when he rises again," Barnabas continued, "the entire underworld—including us, the Kings—will fall under his command and control."
The brothers stayed quiet, no one spoke. No one moved. They all believed the plan would fail. Samar was too powerful. Too feared.
Then Mathias stepped forward, his eyes were sharp. A slow smile spread across his face—cold and sure.
"I have a plan," he said. His voice was calm, but it carried weight. "A way to destroy him. Not to kill him—" he paused, letting the words sink in, "—but to put him into eternal sleep."
The room changed.
Balak straightened at once, his eyes lighting up. Alexander's lips curled into a thin smile. Lachlan took a step closer, excitement flashing across his face, even Barnabas lifted his head, his slow eyes suddenly awake.
Low snarls echoed through the court . Not anger—hunger. Hope.
Mathias's smile grew darker. "This plan will leave him helpless," he continued. "No throne. No rebirth. No return."
The brothers moved without thinking, closing in around him, power rolled off them, thick and heavy. The air felt tight. Servants backed away, heads lowered. Guards stiffened, fear clear on their faces.
Mathias stood at the center, unmoving. "This will be his end," he said quietly. "And our time to rule " his eyes darkened, almost transforming to his demon form.
In the underworld, the kings had the ability to transform. Mathias was tall and large, built like a strong warrior. His body was heavy with muscle, not lean, but solid. His skin had a faint golden color, like metal touched by fire. His face was sharp. High cheekbones, a strong jaw, and thin lips that rarely smiled. His eyes were bright gold, always alert, never soft. Dark veins could sometimes be seen along his neck and hands. His hair was thick and dark, usually kept back. Mathias demeanor was dark and commanding, his demon form, Mammon was terrifying, his eyes could switch from black to green radiating greed in his realm while his people feeds off his Greed, his horns curved slightly upward from his temples, smooth and polished like gold. His hands were big, with long fingers and black claws instead of nails.
The brothers nodded, Their faces showed excitement now. Anticipation. Dark joy. Mathias was no longer grieving, he was dangerous! And in that moment, every brother knew it.
He was their leader and together, they were ready to commit the greatest betrayal the underworld had ever seen.