Chapter 7 - Do you want the hunky Alpha King?

(Alicia)

Wtf? Bride swap? I vaguely remember something about the 200-year bride swap being taught as part of our history lessons. I wrack my brains trying to remember exactly what it was about while I wrestle the Long Island Iced Tea back out of Darren’s clutches. He was looking at me like I’m a simpleton he needs to educate.

A memory flashes from the back of my mind, the kind you dredge up on quiz night, that you didn’t even know you know, yet somehow you know. The 200-year bride swap. It was this archaic idea to foster harmony and tolerance between the supernatural species. A princess from each kingdom, or if one wasn’t available then a very high-ranking official’s daughter, had to marry the King or other high-ranking official from another species. They needed to stay married for at least 10 years to ensure peace-treaties stay in place for the next 190 years.

Which was a complete farce, because what is truly to guarantee peace after the 10 years are up? Or, if the couple managed to stay together, after one of them dies? That bit of info wasn’t taught, at least I don’t think so.

Not counting the humans, which we never did anyway, there were five species. The vampires were seen as strong, but distant and icky; the fairies weren’t a threat to anyone, but with their elemental magic they could defend themselves adequately; everyone was wary of the witches and their spells; the werewolves were likely the strongest but also the most animalistic - nothing more than barbaric shapeshifters; and then there were us, the elves, with a reputation for being fierce and unpredictable.

And to top it all, the elves and werewolves really, really didn’t like each other. There wasn’t full-out war between us, not currently, but the animosity ran deep because of a highly disputed, shared border. When not at each other’s throats in all-out war, like there has been about a century or so ago, we were in this perpetual cold war like the one between the Americans and the Russians during the eighties.

And here I am, caught straight in the middle of the bloody 200-year bride swap, with the werewolves. Shit. How did I not see that one coming? And why did I have to get the year that we’re swapping with the animals?

I take another slug of the cocktail.

“He’s sending me because it’s the animals, isn’t it? If it was any other species Charmaine would have been the natural choice.” There is anger in my voice, the whole situation riling me up again.

Darren gives another dramatic sigh. “You’re not wrong honey. But drowning your sorrows are not going to help anyone. If you keep chucking that drink back, you’re either going to start getting happy and stir up another orgy, or no one in a five-mile radius is going to get laid in a week if you keep holding on to this anger.”

He makes knowing eyes at me, and I push the empty cocktail glass away. He’s right. As usual.

When I say nothing more he clears his throat, looking uncomfortable.

“What is it? I know that look, just spill!” I say, not wanting to deal with his dramatics today.

“Alicia, there’s something you need to know about this bride swap. Something disturbing,” he starts and I cock an eyebrow at him as a prompt to continue. He shifts uncomfortably on his chair and starts playing with the cocktail umbrella.

“Throughout history, it’s never really ended well for any of the couples. Especially not when there was a werewolf-elf matchup.”

Great, just bloody great. Why am I not surprised. Daddy dearest has obviously found the perfect way to finally get rid of me.

I rub at my eyes, my elbows resting on the table. “What am I going to do, Darren? How do I get out of this?”

He looks at me as if the answer was simple and I’m too stupid to spot it.

“Just say no. Easy as that. When have you ever done anything that man asks of you, anyway? Unless you want the hunky Alpha King, of course.” His eyebrows wiggle suggestively, and I stare at him with horror in my eyes.

“I can’t say no. I’m being blackmailed into it. He’s threatening to harm Luka if I don’t comply like a good little daughter.”

Darren gasps at that, horrified. “What? That bastard! That manipulative elven dick goblin—”

The look on my face tells him I’m not lying, but I can see he is genuinely shocked. He is the only other person on this planet who knew what my father did to me to blackmail my grandfather. Apart from the nobles who were calling political shots at the time, of course.

He clears his throat, the shock not quite leaving his eyes yet. “Uhm, what if we abduct Luka and make a run for it? I’ve got access to all kinds of safe houses, you know.”

He is half-serious, half-joking; I wanted to hug him for it.

“You’re a good friend, Darren. “I’ve already thought about that. Where in this realm do you think we could possibly hide and get away with it? But thanks for the offer.”

He falls silent. Then he shuffles his own cocktail over to me. “Maybe you do need more alcohol.”

I laugh, a hollow one but nonetheless a throaty sound resembling a laugh, and push the drink back to him.

“No, seriously I don’t. I can’t deal with another night of ruining other people’s sex lives. Not twice in one week!”

He raises an eyebrow. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“That’s it! Why don’t you just spill the beans to daddy dearest? If he knows your secret, he won’t hand you over to the horny hounds! It’ll be to hand them a weapon they can actually use!”

I snort. Nope. No way. This remains my secret until I’m good and ready to use it properly.

Darren looks at me sideways. I know that look. There’s an idea brewing in that brilliant mind of his.

“You know what, darling? Maybe, just maybe, joining the wolves could be the best move of your life, the moment that will change everything.”