Furious at the guard, Marcus stormed outside the room to reprimand him severely. As soon as he opened the door, he grabbed the guard's neck in his large hands as a ferocious growl came out of his throat. "You have the gall to pound on my door like that? Do you wish to die?"

The guard paled as he was pinned to the wall behind him. "Y—Your Highness," he said, his voice warbled. "A guard was murdered," he squeaked. Sweat coated his face.

Marcus narrowed his eyes. He removed his hand from the guard's neck and waited for him to speak further.

The guard rubbed his neck and continued, "His...