A King’s Challenge
A King’s Challenge
“King Alesi? King Alesi? King Alesi?”
“How can I be of assistance, Lord Gustafson?” he asked, staring at the sleeping beauty beside him.
“May I speak freely?”
“You always do.”
“You seem to take a special… interest… in your prisoner.”
“Indeed. She made an attempt on my life,” Luka answered, unable to snatch his view away from the large vein in her neck that pulsed beneath her skin.
“Please forgive me for being too forward, but your interest seems—”
“Are you certain you wish to continue speaking?” Luka challenged, finally giving the lord his attention.
“I do apologize. Perhaps, I’m confused regarding your intentions after you torture the information out of her. You will be disposing of her, correct?”
Luka sighed and interlaced his fingers in his lap. “Why does it matter?”
“Because you will be searching for a new queen soon. Trust me, I understand the allure of keeping a human for private bedroom matters, especially since they are not immune to our venom; however, your future queen may disapprove. It would be improper.”
“What the new Queen of Night Falls thinks of my—how did you say it? Private bedroom matters?” Ezra nodded. “What she thinks of my private bedroom matters is not significant to me. I am not remarrying for love. I need an heir to continue my bloodline and secure the throne—that is all.”
“Must I remind you that vampire-human hybrids are illegal and could never be recognized as vampire royalty?”
“No, but I think you must remind yourself of your place before I do it for you.”
Ezra scoffed indignantly but decided not to press the matter any further. He served Luka long enough to know the man would do what he pleased. He recoiled when Luka leaned towards Matilda and licked a bloody scratch that ran the length of her cheek.
Luka pressed his nose against Matilda’s cheek and groaned, nearly forgetting Ezra existed. He wanted another taste of her but couldn’t bite her—not in the presence of another male. He would have to settle for the paltry remnants of her blood that caked her face courtesy of the branches.
“Shall I send word to Prince Lykaon’s guards that a guest is to be received in their dungeon?” Ezra questioned.
“That is not necessary.”
“Shall I send word to Prince Lykaon’s household mistress and have her prepare a room for her upon our arrival?”
“That is not necessary.”
“The stables?”
“She will be staying in my quarters,” Luka said firmly.
Ezra didn’t flinch at Luka’s response. It was evident Matilda would be a thorn in their side. If he didn’t get rid of her, they might as well surrender Night Falls to Prince Lykaon on a silver platter.
***
“Welcome to Moonshire,” came the greeting as they stepped from the luxurious carriage. Its once-fine exterior was blackened and riddled with holes from Matilda’s fiery arrows.
Luka frowned, unimpressed by the scarce welcoming party. There were three subjects in total—all tall, broad-shouldered, overly muscled, with aggressive looks warning they were ready to go to battle at any moment.
“Beta David, why isn’t Prince Lykaon here to welcome me? Never mind. It has only been a century since your kind learned the meaning of civilization.”
The beta snarled, top lip curling up to reveal deadly fangs that could rip through flesh with little to no effort. His eyes flickered between his natural brown and amber, an obvious tell that he was battling to control his inner wolf.
“Prince Lykaon sends his warm regards. He is tied up at the moment but looks forward to conversing with you at the banquet that he has worked tirelessly to prepare for your unexpected arrival.”
“I need him to untie himself this instant. There was an attempt on my life while en route, and I’d be remiss not to consider Prince Lykaon as a person of interest.”
“You have some nerve, vamp. You come into our territory and dare disrespect Prince Lykaon!” another wolf barked. He attempted to push past Beta David to confront King Alesi but was hastily grabbed by the third wolf and yanked back into formation.
“Gentlemen, gentlemen, gentlemen,” Ezra repeated in a soothing tone as he wedged himself between the two opposing parties.
“Beta David, we appreciate Prince Lykaon’s hospitality and look forward to continuing our peaceful diplomatic summit.
Our travel to Moonshire was complicated by an unsuccessful attempt on King Alesi’s life.
Mercifully, we only lost a few men, but it could’ve been worse.
Since King Alesi’s travel plans were shared with only a few, including our party and yours, can you see how we might question your involvement?
Especially since it’s well known that Prince Lykaon wants our lands? ”
“Prince Lykaon had nothing to do with your assassination attempt. You can be certain of that. Plenty of beings hate King Alesi, including people from your side.”
“Unhand me!” Matilda screeched as two of Luka’s guards dragged her out of the carriage.
“Ah! Here is our unsuccessful assassin now. Bring her here,” Ezra demanded.
Luka watched through narrowed eyes as Matilda was deposited in front of David. A foreign emotion threatened to consume the vampire king as the beta circled her with approving eyes.
“She is unfamiliar to me. Trust me, if our camp hired her to assassinate you, then I would remember a woman as striking as her. Tell me, woman, do you have a mate?”
“I’m not interested,” Matilda snapped, turning her face from him.
“That does not satisfy my question. Do you or do you not have a man whose claim I would have to challenge?”
Luka seized Matilda by the wrist and pulled her behind him. “You will keep your distance from her.”
“Then she belongs to you?” David questioned with raised brows.
“You will keep your distance from her,” King Alesi repeated, this time with more bass and authority in his tone.
“Don’t be selfish, King Alesi. You have no long-term use for this woman. Unlike your kind, we don’t discriminate against humans. Plenty of wolves in our domain have human mates, and they aren’t forced to kill their offspring. Hand her over.”
Matilda stepped from behind Luka to confront yet another man determined to make an honest woman out of her.
“Let me make something very clear to you, wolf. I am not his to give or yours to take.”
“Is that so?” David asked, taking a few steps closer.
“It is so.”
“Do you like challenges, woman?”
“I enjoy a good riddle,” she answered, triggering a chuckle from the brawny wolf.
“What is your name?”
“Matilda Beaumont.”
“I, Beta David of Moonshire, challenge you, unmated Matilda Beaumont, for your hand. Do you wish to accept?”
“She does not!” Luka shouted.
“I accept!” Matilda confirmed confidently.
“It’s settled then. We will fight at dawn. Be prepared. I will not take it easy on you.”
“Don’t feel too bad when a woman kicks your ass,” Matilda warned.
He grabbed the front of her cloak and hoisted her up until they were eye level and her feet dangled in the air.
“I will enjoy breaking you in more ways than one,” he grumbled, a low growl rumbling through his chest.
“Bring it on… dog,” Matilda whispered.
“Dog, huh? It won’t be long before your belly is stretched and filled with dogs,” David snapped, placing heavy emphasis on the word “dogs” as he lowered her to the ground.
“I look forward to embarrassing you come morning.”
“And I’ll save you a seat by my side at the banquet tonight.”
“No need to concern yourself because she will not be in attendance,” Luka interrupted.
“Prince Lykaon would be greatly displeased by this. The banquet is not only being hosted in your honor but for your guests as well.”
“She is not a guest. She is a prisoner.”
David grinned slyly, baring a row of sharp white teeth. “If that is the case, then I shall have a cell in the dungeon prepared for her. Something tells me she’d look exquisite in a pair of leather cuffs and chains.”
“I am not interested in your fantasies, Beta. Please, show us to our sleeping quarters. I must rest for tomorrow’s challenge,” Matilda urged, interrupting David’s delusions.
“As you wish. Do keep up.”
Matilda’s eyes roved over the grounds, taking in every detail.
Watchtowers guarded each cardinal point, offering an unobstructed view of any approaching threat.
The western tower immediately caught her attention.
Its placement was no coincidence. It faced Night Falls, giving the guardians a clear view of anyone approaching from King Alesi’s lands.
An army would be spotted long before it reached the gates.
She had counted a minimum of twenty guards before they set foot beyond the mammoth castle doors.
She’d be a fool to believe there weren’t a few more sporadically hidden in the shadows—watching and listening—playing the roles of eyes and ears of the court.
Escaping King Alesi and Beta David would be no easy feat, but Matilda had never been one to shy away from a challenge.
For a species that, according to King Alesi, had only joined civilization within the last century, the wolves had accumulated a mass of wealth, evident in the opulent décor.
Matilda had expected dark and dreary, gothic and imposing.
Instead, she was greeted by glorious enchantment.
Her boots padded softly against the burgundy velvet rugs, leaving behind perfect soggy imprints of her feet.
She fell dumbstruck when her eyes met the ceiling.
Earlier, she believed the moon was the most beautiful sight she’d ever seen, but witnessing the werewolves’ history from inception to the present was a close second.
“Oof,” Matilda grunted when she crashed into a wall.
“Anxious to be by my side?” David taunted.
Luka dragged his wandering blood pet behind him. “Our chambers,” he spoke with an icy chill in his tone.
David refused to respond and resumed leading the party through the fortress.
“You are a fool,” Luka spat.
“How so, King of Vamps?”
“You will lose against Beta David.”
Matilda shrugged. She whistled low when they passed a portrait wall of past alphas. They were all ruggedly handsome and hulking, filling out the framed canvases. “Look at the beard on this one,” she mumbled.
“Are you paying attention, you wretched woman?”
“No. I prefer not to listen to naysayers.”
“You will fail.”
Matilda leaned closer to whisper, “Have you considered perhaps losing is my plan?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If I lose, that means I’m off-limits to you. You couldn’t punish or bleed me dry at the risk of starting a full-blown war between Night Falls and Moonshire.”
“You jest,” he accused.
“I kid you not. I’d live more lavishly than I ever dreamed, and if, by some awful turn of events, Prince Lykaon perishes, then my mate would be next in line for the throne. Which would make me Queen of Moonshire.”
Ezra raised a brow when Luka laughed. It was a rough laugh—dark and ominous from the most treacherous part of his soulless existence. Ezra had been conversing with Beta David, ignoring the forbidden couple and their secret whisperings, but now they had his undivided attention.
“Is everything all right back there?”
They ignored him.
“Do you know what my first duty as queen would be?”
“Something utterly reckless, I suppose,” Luka answered.
“I’d liberate my people from the shackles of the vampires. We’d eradicate every single one of you.”
“How would you do it?”
“We’d starve you, not offering a single drop of our appetizing blood. We’d watch with glee as you turned into skin and bones with sunken eyes, hollowed cheeks, and parched lips.”
“And then?”
“We’d drag your bodies through the streets during midday when the sun is at its highest position. It’d be a celebration with street vendors selling delectable foods and sweets and children running by with masks and streamers, singing cheerful songs about the vampires’ demise.”
“Tell me more.”
“We’d tie you to stakes in the city center and watch as you burn to a crisp and ashes. The night would be filled with hours of drinking the finest ale and dancing under the moon.”
“Hm. You are quite vicious, huntress, and do know I will do everything within my power to prevent you from participating in the mating challenge with Beta David.”
“Do I smell another challenge on the horizon?” Matilda asked, locking eyes with the bold vampire king.
“Beta David?”
“Yes, King Alesi?” David turned slowly, meeting Luka’s stare.
“I, King Luka Alesi of Night Falls, challenge you, Beta David of Moonshire, for the unmated Matilda Beaumont. Do you accept?”