All Chapters of Mated to Rival Kings: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Raven’s POVThe silence that followed the messenger’s announcement was broken by a sound I didn’t expect. Valen burst into laughter. It was loud and full of mockery. He crossed his arms, his shoulders shaking with amusement as he looked at Darian."Well, well," Valen chuckled, his black eyes dancing with mischief. "Isn't that your future Queen? The lovely Lady Celeste?"My heart gave a little jolt. Future Queen? I looked at Darian, my eyebrows shooting up. Was he engaged? The thought made a weird, uncomfortable knot form in my stomach. I had just found out this man was my mate, and now I was hearing about a Queen.Darian didn't look at me at first. He shot a look at Valen that was so piercing I was surprised it didn't draw blood. Then, he turned to me and gave a small, incredibly awkward smile. He looked like he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole."Won't you go after her?" Valen rambled on, clearly enjoying Darian's misery. "Aren't you worried? You really should go, yo

Raven’s POVBeing sandwiched between two Kings during a slow dance was an experience I never thought I’d have. I could feel the heat radiating off both of them. Behind me, I could feel the unmistakable bulge of Valen’s hardness pressing against my back, but to my surprise, he wasn't trying to rub lewdly against me. He was just... dancing. He followed Darian’s lead, swaying his hips in time with mine. I actually admired his self-control. I suppose after spending years trying to stop his wolf from going crazy, his iron-clad control over his own body was a given.Darian was just as intense. He didn't look away once, his amber eyes locked onto mine as we moved. It felt like I was the only person in the world to them, and despite the weirdness of it, it was a great experience. For a moment, the fear of the future faded, replaced by the warmth of being wanted.Later on, the music picked up and we started to mingle with the other guests. I noticed a pattern pretty quickly. People would floc

Darian's POVThe Elders didn't linger. Once they were satisfied that we were physically inside the suite and the heavy oak doors were shut, they retreated to whatever dark corner of the mansion they inhabited. With how large it was, we could go months without even seeing each other. The guards took up their posts downstairs leaving us by ourselves. We didn't talk. The exhaustion of the run and the shock of the new living arrangements were too much for conversation. We just retreated to our separate rooms quietly.My room was spacious and cold. It was decorated in deep blues and heavy mahogany, with a bed large enough for four people. I stood by the window for a long time, looking out at the moonlit grounds. It felt surreal. My mate was sleeping just a few feet away, separated only by a wall and a few yards of lounge carpet.What is going to happen now? I wondered.The Council would eventually demand a choice. Would Raven have to pick one of us? And if she did, could I really live wit

Valen’s POVI had been irrationally angry all day, and the worst part was that I didn’t know how to stop it. It was like a black sludge had settled in my veins, making every word Darian spoke sound like an insult and every breath I took feel like a struggle for air. I hated the walls of this mansion. I hated the silent judgment of the Elders. Most of all, I hated the way I felt whenever I looked at Raven, like I was a drowning man and she was the only piece of wood floating in a stormy sea.It was no shock that the moment I finally closed my eyes to sleep, I was plunged straight into a nightmare.In the dream, I was standing in a massive hall with stone floors that were soaked in blood. The air was thick with the metallic tang of it. My hands were heavy, and when I looked down, my sharp claws were buried deep into a woman’s chest. Her face was unknown, but her eyes were clear. They were wide, terrified, and leaking tears that fell rapidly onto the crimson floor. She clutched her belly

Darian's POVI have never wanted to kill someone as much as I wanted to kill Valen in that moment. The man was a master at being insufferable. He stood there with that fake, innocent look on his face, ruining a moment I had been waiting for since I first saw Raven at the Summit.How were we going to survive staying here together? It was the question that kept me up at night. Neither of us was okay with the other party getting close to Raven, and yet we were tethered to the same woman. It was troubling to think about, and that was saying something. I rarely find myself in situations I can’t handle with a calm mind and a quick strategy, but Valen was a wild card that defied logic.I adjusted my collar, forcing my expression to remain cool. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me ruffled."Of course we won't mind if you continue with your flora tour," I responded, my voice smooth and formal. "And we will continue with what we were busy with."I felt a surge of satisfaction when