74

"Kill that girl tonight."

As Ragnar's words echoed through the room, Derek's heart felt as though it had stopped beating. His world felt as though it was crumbling around him, and his knees almost gave way beneath him. He had known that his father's rage would be great, but he had never imagined that he would order the death of Aurora.

Derek's mind raced, trying to think of a way out of the situation, but he could see no escape. He felt as though a ton of bricks had been thrown onto his chest, weighing him down and suffocating him. His hands trembled as he tried to form words to plead with his father, but his tongue seemed to be tied.

The despair and guilt that he felt were almost unbearable, and he couldn't bear the thought of losing Aurora, the one thing that gave him hope in a world of darkness.

"But, father, we need her to get the antidote," Derek said.

Ragnar replied coldly, "I decide whom I need and who I don't. Get rid of her by tonight. This is the only way you can stop me fr