Chapter – 4

Reyna knew she was in deep trouble. Her temples throbbed. A rare occasion since vampires pretty much didn't feel anything. But then she'd always been different.

Vampires, the creatures of darkness all preferred the dark while she reveled the warmth of the light. She valued life and peace as opposed to their craving for blood and death. Perhaps, this was why most of them saw her as an outsider.

"Why would they want to start a war?" she mused. "The rules of the ancients were clear." Killian had already broken every single one.

"Maybe because the number of slaves is dwindling," Celia responded. She ran the washcloth on Reyna's skin, scrubbing softly.

Reyna nodded absent-mindedly. Slaves or mundanes with fates worse than that of the ones in hell. They now called themselves humans. She raked her brain, sifting through her memories as she tried to remember the stories she heard as a child.

The ancient and gory history of the war that even warranted the attention of Gods. She remembered now. Her great great grandfather, Silas, the deranged started it. All because he suddenly found a liking to mundane blood a bit too much.

The land they lived in was divided into three parts. Vampires ruled the North, Lycans the South, and the other supernaturals took the West. The East was covered by the ocean and the creatures of water.

When the vampires started hunting the mundanes, they took shelter in the South. The Lycans had welcomed them with open arms and took them under his protection. This didn't bode well with Silas. He waged war at the Lycanthropes.

Now, Lycans though stronger than Vampires in many aspects, lacked in numbers. Their numbers soon dwindled. But every Lycan killed at least a hundred Vampires. So, the war was even. But the other supernaturals had also joined it. Some siding with Silas and some with Lycans. Chaos and destruction rained on earth. Then, the gods intervened, separating the kingdoms forever.

Something clicked in her mind. Suddenly, the impossible seemed possible. And the answer to the question that plagued her mind for weeks was clear. The Lycans protected the weaker ones. It was in their nature.

The Lycan King survived in the pits of their dungeons all these weeks because someone had been feeding him. Who?

The banging on the door broke the wretched silence that was drenching her for the past couple of minutes. Reyna lifted her head with a frown as Celia excused herself to check who it was. The water was cold and she realized her skin had started to prune.

With her thoughts jumbled, Reyna rested her head at the edge of the tub again. Her mother had excused herself after she shared the details of her unintentional marking. The crestfallen look said it all. But she trusted her mother would keep mum.

The furious growl of a male wrenched her out of her thoughts. She turned in time to see Celia blocking her naked form from the vision of someone. She held her maid gown outstretched as she pleaded, "Your Highness, this is her private space. You shouldn't be here."

Reyna's eyes widened and she acted fast, grabbing the drying cloth nearby. There was no time to wrap it around her torso when Killian pushed her maid away. She scrambled out of his reach as she held the cloth on her front, covering as much as she could. Fortunately, her hair covered her neck and the mark in it.

Fury licked her veins and she hissed at her brother. King or not, he had no business in her private chambers. No men should be in here unless he was her mate.

"What the hell, Killian? Get out now!"

The sneer on Killian's face stirred her fear. His lips peeled off to display his fangs. Anger rolled off him in waves, but he said nothing.

"Killian! I said get out."

His chest heaved and Reyna shuddered when his eyes trailed low. A smirk replaced his sneer and a rumble of appreciation rolled out of his chest. Disgust and disbelief coiled around her body as she shrunk herself, pressing her back to the polished surface, realizing a bit too late it was a mirror.

Embarrassing heat rushed to her cheeks. So did tears. This couldn't be happening. The metallic taste of blood in her mouth made her realize she'd been biting the inside of her cheeks.

Celia jumped in front of her again, hands and dress outstretched. "Your Highness, it's highly inappropriate for you to stare at your sister when she's not decent."

Her friend was putting her life at the line by standing up against her King. But Reyna felt tongue-tied. Disgust continued to seep through her bones. Killian was no longer the brother she grew up with. The moment his lecherous gaze touched her, he'd become someone else.

Tears rolled down her reddened cheek and her grip tightened around the thin material that covered her. To think she'd been ready to trade her life to the Lycan king to avoid his impending doom, her jaws tightened. She risked her life.

"She's betrothed. I beg you. Master Lionel wouldn't take this kindly."

At that, his eyes snapped to the maid with a loud growl of warning that shook her insides. Nausea rolled within her chest. Killian looked murderous and she knew that look. Reyna clutched her friend, holding her tight. Her heart thudded against her ribs.

This couldn't be happening. But it was. Her body and mind seemed to shut down. The years of training faded into nothing. Her mind was a clean slate.

"Killian!"

Her head snapped to the right, where her mother stood. Face red with fury and eyes dark as night, Riah growled. Killian staggered a few steps back and focused his gaze on their mother.

"Out! Now."

The muscle in his jaw ticked, but he flicked a glance at her direction before exiting the bathing chamber.

Reyna's knees gave way and she sagged to the floor. Her mother was there in a moment, holding her tight. "Oh, God, Reyna. I just stepped out for some fresh air and this..." She shook her head as disbelief flashed in her face.

"Mom..." Reyna wheezed. "H-he..."

"Our ancestors have mated within the family to keep the bloodline pure. The past few centuries had changed this tradition."

Reyna didn't like what she insinuated. She gave an involuntary shudder. "What about Lionel?"

"Your brother is King. What he says is the law."

She shook her head, more tears falling down. "Help me. I-I can't do this. I'll rather die than mate with my own brother."

Riah's face softened. She motioned Celia to pick another drying cloth. "I know."

Reyna waited with a racing heart as her mother proceeded to dry her hair.

"I've read his thoughts." Her lips set in a thin line. "He'll kill Lionel as soon as the Lycan King is taken care of. He plans to frame him for the abduction and torture. That way Killian would earn the other Lycan's trust."

"What?"

"You must leave and take the Lycan King with you."

Reyna shook her head. Barrmount was all she had ever known. And he was their enemy. "He'll kill me. He said so." He'd growled the words at her face even as he stared at her with a half-shut eye.

"This mark is your safety." Riah tapped the mark on her neck. "It'll protect you even from the King of beasts himself."

She wasn't sure if this was a curse or a boon. Her mother wasn't thinking this through. She wouldn't survive out there. "Mom...I..."

"You can't stay here anymore. I met your father before I came in."

Reyna's mind raced. The sound of her heart became too loud to her own ears. Surely there must be some other way. What if Lionel killed Killian instead? Suddenly, being with Lionel didn't repulse her anymore. It was far better than the mud pit she was in now.

"It's not easy." Her mother met her eye and locked her gaze with hers. "And you keep forgetting this mark. Your body should've rejected the claim, but it hasn't. It only means one thing."

Reyna swallowed in understanding. The Lycan King didn't mean to mark her, did he? She touched the mark again.

"I don't think it was intentional. It could be your blood and he must've lost control." Her mother's laugh held no humor. "I wonder if he even realizes what he'd done in this state of his mind. A caged beast is the most dangerous beast, Reyna. It was your luck you're even breathing."

She lowered her gaze. Her action was reckless. She got that now and she'll pay for that.

"They'll kill him tomorrow night after the festivities. Your brother will bring him to the arena outside, where he can kill him in front of the audience. It'll be chaos. But that's also your only chance to get him out. Now, listen carefully."

Reyna's heart beat faster as her mother continued to explain the plan.

***

Reyna twisted in the gold-coated tub as her gut wrenched with pain. The simplest task of breathing became a challenge. It felt as if she was burning inside out.

"Mama, h-help." Her cry echoed across the polished stone walls as water sloshed out of the tub.

"Celia, lock the door. Don't let anyone inside," Riah commanded.

"W-what's h-happening?" Riah's face blurred from her vision as the pain intensified. Never had she ever experienced such agony. Excruciating and slow, it pulverised her strong will.

"It's the mark." Her mother's word made little sense. They weren't fully mated yet. How was that even possible? "Your father and brother must have gone down to pay that Lycan a visit. I can sense their rage and thrill."

If she wasn't too distracted, she'd have felt that too. Their blood bond would have transmitted some of the emotions.

"I-It hurts..." Reyna whimpered and doubled over. "C-can't b-breathe."

"I'm sorry, my dear. You have no choice, but to get through this." Her mother sounded desperate and helpless. "Accidental or intentional, this indicates the beast has established a bond."

"Is there no way to stop it?" Celia rushed to the other side. The maid poured cold water over her in her feeble attempt to offer solace. "What if the Lycan is dead? The bond will break then."

Reyna panted, choking on the sudden urge to growl at her friend. The silence stretched and she risked a glance at her mother's crestfallen face.

"Your body should've rejected the mark if it was incompetent. But that's not the case." She shook her head dejectedly. "And we don't know how this works since this kind of mating is first in the history."

Reyna let out another whimper. Screaming would warrant the warrior's attention and Killian would know of the marking. Tears spilled, mingling with the water as she doubled over one last time. Suddenly, the pain stopped and her lungs expanded, allowing her to gulp enough air.

Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she struggled to catch her breath. Her chest heaved and slowly her body returned to her element. With whoosh of her breath, her corporeal form detached itself from her body and raced to the dungeons.

***

Blood.

Pain.

Torture.

Words couldn't explain the goriest scene she'd ever witnessed in her entire life of twenty-two years. A strangled cry left of her lips as she rushed to him.

Three scrawny figures jumped in front of her, blocking her path. Reyna gasped in horror, believing for a moment she was caught. But these weren't the vampires. Blending with the dirt and stench, stood three women, whose age she couldn't tell. Thin and malnourished, they held a blunt knife, threatening her to back off.

Yellow, crooked teeth peered from under their chapped lips. The tattered dress hung from her bony frames. Mundanes. Reyna now knew, who kept the King nourished. The third one held a plate of the old meal, the meager amount of what they often get. These women must've been starving themselves to feed him. Their loyalty–heartwarming and shocking.

The young vampire princess could bet on her life that they have never seen him before. But it was clear where their loyalty lay. They knew she could kill them if she wanted. Yet they stood bravely, shielding the beast.

The Lycan King hung limp in his chains. Flesh ripped and bones protruding, the whip had mauled his body. The weak beat of his heart, too low even for her sensitive ears.

Her throat constricted and it felt like an eternity before he drew in a labored breath. Relief flooded her, but remorse and pain replaced it soon.

She lifted her hands, palms facing out. "I want to help."

"Leech!" That word was spat out like a curse.

"Stay away."

Their voices hoarse with years of ill-treatment. But still deadly and determined.

"My blood, it'll heal him. He's dying. Let me help."

One chuckled. "She wants us to believe that." She turned her brown gaze at Reyna. "Your family had done enough damage to us. Now you wanted to kill our King."

"We know death is coming for us. But we won't let you take away the only hope we have," said the other.

"He's all we have left. The last heir of the royal bloodline. With his death the Lycans will be no more," said the third.

Reyna dropped her hands. These women meant well. But time was running out. His heartbeat grew weaker with every passing second. Blood loss could kill a Lycan.

"He's dying. You have no choice. I'm your only chance. I saved him once. Let me do it again."

They weren't moving. Their unwavering gaze pinned her.

"If you were feeding him regularly, you must've known how faster he healed in the past week."

Patience waned. Knocking them out was an option. Then she didn't wish to hurt them more. With a sigh, she slid her gown showing them the mark on her neck.

A few collective gasps echoed within the small confinement. They each shared a look before scrambling out of her way.

Reyna rushed to him, lifting her hand to his lips. Aluxious didn't move. She didn't know if it was even possible for her to pull this trick. She never tried. Does he know I'm here?

"Aluxious?" she called, her voice choking on the pain. "It's me."

"Drink please..." she urged when he stayed still.

Seconds turned into minutes as she beckoned him to take her blood. Maybe I should slice my skin and force the blood down his throat.

Just as she was about to remove her hand, his fangs pierced her skin. A small yelp left her lips, but she braced herself as he sipped her blood. One drop at a time. So slow, but now she could hear his heart pick up speed, steadying its rhythm.

Reyna closed her eyes. "Take as much as you need," she whispered. He was no longer safe and they were running out of time. She felt no emotion washing over her this time. Her mind was as silent like him.

"How did you get past the guards?" she asked the women.

"The guards have a weakness for women," one said, trying to mask the disgust and failing. "Vanessa and Maria are attending them.

Shame ate her insides as the reality of the life of mundanes in her kingdom hit her in the gut. They were struggling to survive while she lived sheltered from the harshness outside the walls.

I must find a way to help them all.

"I need your help." Her voice grew determined. "First, we will save your King."