Chapter – 3

Reyna paced back and forth in her chamber. Her mind preoccupied. Her parents would arrive anytime today. That would stop Killian from killing the Lycan king immediately. Perhaps, she could take this to her father’s attention. He’d stop this madness.

Light footsteps reached her door. Celia entered a moment later. “Princess, your parents arrived earlier than scheduled. They’re on their way to the Royal chambers.”

It was close to midnight. They were scheduled to arrive in the morning. “Good. I hope my mother would have the time to speak with me.”

“You can’t. The King had called the adviser and the councilmen in the parlor for a quick drink. My orders are to bring you there.”

“Oh.” A frown tugged the corner of her mouth down. “What’s the hurry?” She nodded at her maid and walked to the parlor.

Applauds and cheers reached her ears first. Then came the boom of her father’s proud voice.

"Ah, there's my son. My King!"

Their mother, Riah waved a hand, inviting her to sit on an empty chair beside her. The usual smile on her face was absent. It was replaced by an expression that said ‘I-am-not-happy-with-you.’ Reyna swallowed the lump in her throat and focused on her father and brother.

"You make me so proud." Her father hugged Killian and clapped on his back just as she entered the parlor. “You have no idea how great the news you sent me is.” The joy and pride in his eyes twisted Reyna's gut. What was their father getting at? Riordan, the former king released his son and faced the vampires.

"For the first time in history, my son had imprisoned a Lycanthrope. And that too not just any mutt.” The councilmen went mad with their chorus of cheers that it hurt her ears. “But their King!"

Reyna's jaws hit the table just as her stomach dropped. Foreboding settled in her heart. What the––he knew. A hand squeezed hers and she turned to see her mother beaming with pride. Her throat constricted.

"We've been quiet for too long. Not anymore. It's time to take what's rightfully ours," her father continued with the same pride if not more. "My son, here, will lead you to greatness. To your destiny!"

The crowd cheered as Killian met her gaze, his smirk widening. Reyna's gaze dropped to her hands in her lap. She had been holding them too right that her knuckles were white.

“It’s a pleasure, father.” Killian placed a hand over his chest, giving a curt bow. “I’m just following the dream you instilled in me as a child. Today the Lycans are at our mercy because of that.”

“Soon, they’ll know who’s their real King.”

The spectators in the room nodded with glee and a few of them raised their chalices.

"This is insane," she found herself murmuring as she stood to leave. Being among vampires at times like this guaranteed headache. Especially now they had heard every word. Reyna squared her shoulders and jutted her chin, facing her father and brother. "My apologies. If you'll excuse me, I wish to retire and call it a night."

She didn't wait for their response, instead bowed in their general direction and left the room like a bat out of hell.

"You should mind the way you talk to your father and brother."

Uh, not this again. Reyna halted in her tracks and slowly turned to face her mother. "There's nothing wrong in the way I speak, mother. It's all in how they perceive it."

"You think you're smart, Reyna. But I warn you, that smart mouth of yours means nothing, but trouble."

"Thanks for the compliment, mother." Reyna turned to walk away.

"I talked with Lionel."

That fast. Right. That was why she'd been giving her stink eye. The displeased look was too hard to miss.

"I'm ashamed of the way you behave, Reyna. You're not only my daughter, but also a princess. Don't ever forget your duties to the throne."

"I never forget my duties, mother. Except, Lionel is not a part of my duties. I don't like him."

"Lionel is the Royal advisor and the commander of our army." Riah's features took a hard edge. Her cerulean eyes darkened as it normally did when she was furious. "You're his betrothed and that sums up everything. You like him or not, you'll obey and play your part."

"Like you played your part by pretending to love my father even when you don't?"

"How dare you?"

Reyna knew she'd crossed the limit when those words left her mouth. Now, as she stared into the dark depths of her mother's eyes, she felt her fury wrap its invisible arms around her neck. Her jaws clenched as the hold tightened on her neck. One of her mother's supernatural powers.

Taking a deep breath, Reyna forced her body to relax and then waved her hand, feeling the hold ease up. "I wasn't given a choice in choosing my mate," she said. "I refuse to be in a loveless mating."

Riah masked her surprise because no one got out of her ghost to hold that easily. "You still have no choice. Your mating was arranged with the best interests of our throne."

"Oh, I know that," Reyna snorted. Lionel was one of the strongest vampires and her parents feared he might turn against Killian with time. But Lionel had a weakness for her and they used it to their advantage.

By arranging their mating they thought Lionel would forever be loyal to Killian. Only they didn't know how wrong that notion was. She suspected loyalty wasn't why Lionel stood with Killian. She'd seen the way Lionel eyed the throne. If mated, he'd become stronger, especially with the kind of powers she held within. That was exactly why, she'd never let this mating happen.

"You think so?"

Reyna whipped around to see her mother trembling slightly. Ah, snap! She forgot her mother could read her thoughts if they were close enough.

"I know so."

Her mother stared at her speechless. "You're delaying the transformation."

"I am."

"Killian knows." Her mother's features were no longer hard. She resembled a scared kitten now that she had a glimpse of Reyna's thoughts. "He plans to force your transformation this winter."

"I know."

Old news. But again Killian was wrong. The transformation had already begun. She could feel it in her bones. Reyna braked her thoughts before it went to the Lycan king. Her mother would know.

"Reyna...it's not your hatred talking. Is it?" Riah's footsteps slightly harder than hers followed.

"I don't know what you think, mother. But I love Killian as much as you do and want only the best for him. I can't mate Lionel." Or any vampire in this Kingdom for that matter. If anyone ever found out her secrets she'd be long dead. Especially, Killian can never know. His need for superiority had already pushed him over the edge to the point he had abducted the Lycan King to show his dominance.

"Oh, my God!"

Ugh! She turned to face her mother again. "Stop following me."

"I didn't know all this." Gone was the angry bird, who choked her a few minutes ago. Now stood before her was a mother she'd always known. "We must talk."

Reyna frowned, but nodded and led her to the chamber. Celia, who was setting her nightclothes out straightened and left the room with a bow.

"Who marked you?"

Huh? Reyna whirled around, almost losing her footing again. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You forgot I can read your thoughts. You exchanged blood with someone and carry their mark on your neck."

Reyna swallowed. "It's not what you think."

"Killian will kill you."

Her shoulders slumped as she walked away from her mother and stepped into the bathroom. "Celia already established that." She stripped out of her clothes, leaving her neckpiece on. Her mother seeing the mark was the last thing she wanted for the day. But she knew Riah wouldn’t let go that easy.

Her mother proceeded to unstrap the neckpiece before she could object. "No." An audible gasp left her mouth.

Reyna looked up to see her mark and her eyes went wide like saucers. The mark hadn't withered away as she expected. If anything, it had become dark, almost healing and making the claim permanent.

"It'll now fade only if he's dead." Her mother's voice cracked. "Oh, why this has to happen to you? How am I going to save you now? Who’s he?"

"Mom."

A sob left her mother's lips and more followed.

"It's nothing, momma. I'll be alright. There's nothing to fear."

"You don't understand." Her mother shook her head. "Your father killed his sister just because she was stronger and powerful than he was."

"What?" Reyna's heart banged against her ribs.

"You're stronger than Killian. If he ever found out he'll kill you. But now, if he sees this..." Riah threw her hands over her mouth, sobbing harder.

"Mom, please... Killian won't find out. I promise."

“I want to know everything. Who bit you? You said you’d never mate any Vampire in this kingdom. Then who’s mark is this?”

Reyna traced the mark. “You can’t tell anyone.”

Her mother cocked her head to the side, giving her a stern look.

“Okay. Sorry.” Reyna stood and climbed into the tub, lowering herself in the soothing warm water. “It was an accident.”

***

“Lionel is a genius, father,” Killian boasted. “There’s no antidote to the special concoction he crafted.” His laughter bounced along the dungeon walls and was soon joined by Lionel’s.

“I know, son.” Riordan patted Lionel’s back. “As long as you both are together, no one can touch you.”

Killian couldn’t contain his excitement. Tonight the mutt will die and they’ll present the mutilated remains of the Lycan King to his dogs. “Here, father. The mutt is all yours.”

Riordan scrunched his nose. “It smells like someone died in here.”

“Not dead yet,” Lionel corrected. “But dying.”

He walked ahead and gestured them toward the cell, only to stop dead in his tracks. Fury replaced the surprise and Killian frowned, not grasping the sudden change in his mood.

“What the––”

The Lycan King, still in chains looked as good as new. Sure, he was still ugly and stinking with all that shit around. Dried blood coated his skin, but he wasn’t dying as he should be. The last dose he injected was more than what he usually gave and it should have left him between life and death.

A low growl vibrated the walls of the room when Lionel unlocked the cell.  “It’s surprising how you still stand. Good though. We’d take pleasure in breaking you all over again.” The mutt lashed out and Lionel jumped back right on time to evade his deadly fangs. “Ooh,” Lionel mocked the alpha. “That was scary. But I’ve got something special for you.”

Killian chuckled as Lionel pulled a vial from his robe. He tightened the chains that forcefully stretched the limbs of the alpha. His friend laughed as he marched toward Aluxious and emptied the contents in his body.

The Lycan roared and thrashed in his chains, but Lionel was faster. He threw the vial away and picked the silver spiked whip, handing it to the former King. “His fate is now in your hands.”

A thrill coursed through his veins as he watched his father close the distance to the mutt. The first crack of the whip drew a bark of laughter from his lips. Killian clapped as he watched the madness ascend in his father’s eyes. The whip continued to crack as the Lycan King’s resolve slowly broke.