Emmett, Samantha, and Charles sat dumbfounded on the couch. "What is going on?" they wondered. A man kneeling upon arrival seemed excessive.

Rodney and Eagle King, however, remained unfazed; they were clearly accustomed to this. For Kash, seeing Yvette meant one thing: he had to kneel. Location, time, or circumstance were irrelevant. He considered it the highest form of respect his pack could show their recognized king.

Jeremiah's gaze shifted from Kash to Yvette, his eyes intense and thoughtful. He mused, "There is always something extraordinary about her."

Yvette, legs crossed, regarded Kash without emotion. Her chin tilted slightly; her half-lidded eyes were cold and detached. "Get up," she commanded coldly.

Before rising, Kash pressed his head to the floor in one final bow. Despite years among humans, he hadn't abandoned his instincts or traditions. "Ms. Zeller," he said, his voice trembling slightly with excitement, "you've finally returned."

Kash's expression shocked Samantha. Startled, she sprayed water she'd just swallowed across Charles's face. Charles, with a deadpan expression, calmly produced a handkerchief to clean his suit.

Eagle King straightened, sensing his turn to speak. "Kash calls Yvette 'Ms. Zeller' because she oversees a private army here," he explained. "When he's not guarding Rodney, he leads training sessions for that unit."

Samantha's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd resolved to remain calm, but events consistently shattered her composure. A private army? Is that even real? she thought.

Emmett gathered his thoughts. "Are you saying Yvette has her private army here in Voraxia?"

Voraxia, a notorious no-man's-land, was rife with drug dealers and criminals, each with their armed forces. Yet, the idea of Yvette commanding an army still shocked him.

Rodney nodded eagerly. "That's right, Samantha. Didn't you know? Yvette has her own army!"

Kash scanned the room. His gaze locked onto Jeremiah, his expression hardening, his body tensing into high alert. He squinted, hostility evident. What a dangerous man, he thought.

Yvette glanced at Kash. "He's my friend," she said, her tone light and indifferent.

The words instantly dispelled Kash's hostility. The queen's friends deserved respect.

Jeremiah cast a fleeting glance at Kash, his expression unreadable. Kash, shirtless, stood tall and imposing, his muscular build exuding dominance. Raised by wolves, he saw nothing wrong with his lack of clothing, and his subordinates were accustomed to it.

Eagle King glanced at his own abdomen, sighing, "Damn it. When can I have such abs?"

Yvette shifted slightly toward Rodney, who muffled laughter. The tour had been long, almost tedious.

Eagle King cleared his throat. Not worth mentioning, he thought.

Is Yvette trying to drive them crazy? he wondered. Voraxia's criminals would be overwhelmed by this revelation.

Charles, usually quiet, spoke. "How many people are in your army, Yvette?"

Yvette's expression remained cool, faintly irreverent. "Two thousand."

Charles blinked, surprised. In Voraxia, two thousand soldiers seemed few. Samantha breathed a sigh of relief. Oh man, I thought she was going to say a million, she thought. Emmett, too, felt relief at the less terrifying number.

Kash's gaze remained cold as he studied the group. Eagle King paused, deciding against elaboration. The two thousand soldiers weren't ordinary people. This wasn't mere numbers; each soldier was a force to be reckoned with. Other factions relied on quantity, but one of Yvette's men could likely defeat several from another gang. Eagle King knew this from experience. Well, they'll all find out for themselves tomorrow, he thought.

Jeremiah gently placed his hand over Yvette's. Kash's expression turned fierce; Rodney's, unmistakably jealous.

A commotion erupted at the door – uncoordinated footsteps. "Mr. Robinson, Kash. The traitor has been captured. What should we do with him?"

At the mention of the traitor, Rodney sat up straight, his eyes glowing with a chilling light. "Bring him in."

Three soldiers entered, escorting a disheveled man. The man, struggling to his feet, spotted Rodney and attempted to reach him. Before he could take a step, Kash, having walked past the couch, kicked him hard in the ribs. A sickening crack sounded; Kash quickly silenced the man's scream.

Rodney's voice dripped with venom. "Did you think I really went to Tower Village? Selling me out and running off with your mistress was going to work?"

The man's eyes widened in shock; he shook his head in denial.

Rodney didn't give him a chance to speak. Without emotion, he turned to Kash. "Take him away. Stuff him in a sack, drag him through the streets, and kill him."

"Kill him" meant a brutal, drawn-out death: a sack, bound limbs, a covered mouth, and a beating with a stick, until death. The body would then be tossed to the dogs. Kash nodded. "Understood." He glanced at Yvette before dragging the terrified man away. The man struggled violently but in vain. A traitor's fate was sealed. Had he succeeded, and Rodney fallen into enemy hands, his fate would have been far worse.

Rodney turned to Yvette, his demeanor shifting completely. He flashed a sweet, almost childlike smile, his voice dripping with false innocence. "Yvette, you must be exhausted. I've arranged a room for you. Please go rest."

Samantha, Emmett, and Charles were surprised by the change.

Yvette nodded. "Okay."

Rodney stepped between Jeremiah and Yvette, looking up at Jeremiah with wide, innocent eyes. "Let me show you to your room, Mr. Chavez," he said with a playful grin.

Samantha, Emmett, Eagle King, and Charles exchanged amused glances. Samantha turned to the others, slightly incredulous. "Why do all of Jeremiah's rivals have such strange personalities?"

Emmett shook his head, resigned. "To be honest, I've lost count of how many people have tried to steal Yvette from Jeremiah."