Chapter 4 - The Red King ️ ️

"Uh.... the Red Kingdom?"

"You've never heard of them?"

She shook her head. "I've never really left this manor or used a phone for years."

Lena looked genuinely shocked.

"My Lady.... They're the strongest kingdom in the Wereworld."

Briella laughed softly, delighted by such legend.

"Oh my! I thought that was just a story."

Lena didn't laugh. "It's not."

Before Briella could ask another question, a stable hand sprinted across the courtyard.

"They crossed the eastern border!"

The entire household froze. Someone dropped a crystal vase and it shattered across the floor. Even the head of security looked uneasy.

Lena swallowed, dreadfully.

"They're here."

****

****

Within minutes, Bernard descended the grand staircase wearing an expensive charcoal suit that glowed under the chandelier. 

Briella felt tired again by just looking it and remembering how hard she'd pressed it straight earlier. 

Bernard's usual arrogance remained. But today, he looked tense.

Behind him walked his mother, Natasha Ashcroft. She was so elegant and perfectly composed. She wore black from head to toe, her golden jewelry catching the morning light.

The entire household immediately straightened. No one dared speak.

Natasha's sharp eyes swept across the entrance hall before settling briefly on Briella.

"Briella."

Briella immediately lowered her head. "Yes, Mother."

"Prepare the east guest wing."

Bernard frowned. "The east wing?"

Natasha didn't even look at him.

"Yes."

He scoffed. "Why? They'll only be here for a meeting."

Natasha finally turned toward her son.

"It is because if the Red King finds fault with our hospitality...." She paused. "....there won't be an Ashcroft Manor left to host another guest."

There was silence. Even Bernard had no reply.

Natasha walked away. Her heels echoed confidently across the marble floor.

****

****

Later, Briella carried a vase filled with fresh white lilies toward the east wing.

The hallway overlooked the massive front courtyard through floor-to-ceiling windows.

As she adjusted the flowers, a sound rolled across the estate.

PAMMMMM!

It was a deep horn. Not electronic but ancient and powerful. Briella gasped and ducked in terror. 

The glass windows trembled and every employee stopped working.

Security guards rushed outside and housekeepers abandoned their carts. Everyone moved toward the front entrance.

"What was that?" Briella whispered, unsure what to do.

Lena grabbed her wrist.

"My Lady.... You should come."

With Lena's guidance, they stepped onto the wide stone terrace overlooking the estate.

Far beyond the massive iron gates, a convoy of matte-black armored SUVs fired along the highway like an endless serpent.

Each vehicle carried the red crest of a wolf surrounded by a crown and a panther interlaced.

Motorcycles escorted the convoy. Drones hovered silently overhead. And at its center, one enormous armored vehicle moved more slowly than the others.

Unlike the rest, it's windows were completely black. No one could see inside.

Around it walked twelve towering Lycan guards dressed in black uniforms.

Their discipline was unnerving. Not a single head turned and not a single voice spoke. They marched as though protecting something sacred.

Lena's face had gone pale.

"He's here..."

Almost instinctively, people began lowering their heads.

Security officers. Business executives. Politicians. Servants. Even Bernard.

One by one, they bowed. Only Briella remained standing. Not because she was defiant or proud but because she simply didn't understand what was happening.

Even the birds seemed to disappear. A great silence settled over the manor.

"What's happening?" Briella whispered.

Lena answered without lifting her head.

"The Red King. Bow."

At that exact moment, the vehicle stopped and the rear door of the central armored vehicle opened.

Then.... a polished black boot touched the ground. Another followed.

The man who emerged seemed impossibly tall.

He wore an impeccably tailored black suit beneath a dark long overcoat that looked ceremonially made while a crimson wolf insignia gleamed against his breast pocket..

He wore no crown and no medals and no unnecessary display.

He didn't need them. Power surrounded him like another skin.

Without hurrying, he slowly removed his pair of black leather gloves.

Then as if sensing something, he lifted his head and his purple-red eyes traveled across hundreds of bowed figures...

Until it stopped directly on the only woman still standing.

Briella Whitemere.

And neither of them looked away.

****

****

Laszlo noticed immediately. She looked.... shocked and confused.

A young woman stood near the front steps clutching a vase of white lilies against her chest. Her lemon green eyes darted from one kneeling figure to another.

She looked completely lost. Almost frightened. Then.... their eyes held and Laszlo stopped moving.

Just for a heartbeat but he quickly recovered.

It was truly her. The woman beneath him on that bed last night. The woman whose trembling hands had somehow awakened a sensation he had believed impossible. The woman who had disappeared before sunrise without telling him her name.

His heartbeat gave one slow.... unexpected thud and the curse inside him stirred curiously. He watched her but she didn't recognize him.

Of course she didn't. He'd compel her not to.

Good.

His expression remained unreadable. Around them...

Nobody dared lift their head to notice the King's brief pause except one man.

Standing half a step behind Laszlo, his adviser quietly followed his line of sight. His sharp eyes settled on Briella. Then back on his King.

Interesting.

Before he could think further, Lena's horrified whisper reached Briella.

"My Lady.... Kneel!"

Briella blinked.

"What?"

"KNEEL!"

Only then did she look around, drawn from the trance. Her heart dropped.

Every single person.... was on the ground. Even Bernard. Even Queen Natasha. The realization struck her like lightning.

"Oh.... Oh no..."