Broken Ties
Matilda’s eyes fluttered open, and she grimaced at the pale sight before her.
“Have I gone to the underworld?”
“Not quite. How are you feeling?”
“Like I was stabbed in the shoulder by a wretched bloodsucker,” she groaned, massaging her shoulder. The wound was healed but still ached. “Where is Luka? I hope he is not off in a corner mourning his deceased secret lover.”
Ezra snorted. “I could barely get him to leave your side.”
“Why would you want him to leave my side?” she asked hesitantly.
“He hadn’t fed in days. I caught him sucking your blood off his fingers.”
“A depraved one he is.”
“Indeed, he is.”
“I feel him,” Matilda commented, pulling herself up against the splintered and chipped headboard. “He is near.”
“Yes. He’s downstairs making a mockery of himself.”
“How so?” she asked, rolling her neck, working out the kinks.
“Partaking in a childish drinking game with your ex-orc lover.”
“I shan’t entertain your foolish ribbing. It is simply not worth my time.”
“What shall I entertain you with instead?” he asked.
“What happened after Alaria Marquis fell?”
Ezra rose and paced to the small window that offered a lovely view of the stables. “A slight discord that had to be dispelled. As you can imagine, Lawrence Marquis was not pleased with his daughter’s death. He demanded your execution for cheating.”
“I didn’t cheat. The ancient texts stipulate that opponents may use any weapons of choice.”
“I’m aware. The Marquises underestimated you greatly.”
“Not only the Marquises,” she mumbled.
“True. We all underestimated you somewhat, but I promise no soul will challenge you again. Word is spreading that you’re a witch.”
Matilda rolled her eyes and grumbled, “A witch? How unoriginal. You turn a vial of werewolf blood into a powdery substance, and you’re a witch. Let them think what they will. What else?”
“Lawrence Marquis disrespected King Alesi. He cursed him and spat on his boots.”
Matilda’s brows raised to her hairline. “And does Lawrence Marquis still have a tongue in his head?”
“Not for long. The House of Marquis will be eradicated by noonday.”
“That is music to my ears. Other noble houses will think twice before challenging me before the wedding.”
“Indeed.”
“I often enjoy our conversations, Ezra, but if it’s all the same to you, I’m ready for my boar stew.”
“It is only fair. You’ve earned it.”
Carefully, Ezra guided Matilda downstairs with an arm looped through hers. She barely held back a groan when they happened upon the king arm wrestling with Belzar. An arm crashed onto the table, and the gathered crowd roared.
“I demand a rematch!” Luka snarled, pushing strands of long hair out of his face.
“You have lost thrice already. Do you have any dignity left?” Belzar taunted, laughing boisterously with his head thrown back and his hands on his belly.
“Again!” Luka exclaimed, slamming the flimsy table with his fist.
Matilda grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled his head back. “Halt your embarrassment, my King,” she said, kissing his forehead before releasing him.
“If it isn’t the traitorous witch huntress herself,” Belzar grumbled once Matilda sat in her betrothed’s lap.
“Let’s not speak of traitorous. I believe someone traded me to my mortal enemy for a bag of gold.”
“Forgive me, Tilda, but the offer was too enticing.”
“What I would’ve given to be a fly on the wall and see your face when you opened your reward with glee.”
“Knowing you, you would’ve cackled yourself to death. I know I nearly did,” Belzara said, setting an enormous bowl of stew in front of Matilda.
Matilda leaned in and wafted the savory aroma.
“Belzara, you may have outdone yourself once again.”
“I put extra boar in there for you.”
“You are my green angel and will return to the castle with me. Taste, my King?” Matilda asked, offering him a spoonful. He accepted, and she grinned when his eyes lit with excitement.
“My dearest Belzara, may I trouble you with a request?”
“No more ale for you, King Alesi. You drink like a fish and will put us out of business.”
“A bowl of stew then?”
“As you wish,” Belzara responded with a curtsy.
Matilda tucked into her stew unceremoniously. She closed her eyes, savoring the meat and spices. It felt like home—a little piece of her that she couldn’t do without. “Belzara?” Matilda said when she had returned with more stew.
“Make it quick, Tilda. I can’t subject myself to idle chit-chat. I have others to serve.”
“But what if you only had one to serve?”
Belzara raised a thick brow. “What are you saying?”
“I meant it when I said I was taking you back to the castle.”
“You aim to abduct me?”
“I aim to make you my lady-in-waiting.”
Luka cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Surely, my Queen, we can find a lady-in-waiting with much more experience. There are women who were trained from birth for the role.”
“Be that as it may, there are concerns regarding loyalty, and I trust Belzara.”
Belzar slammed his mug onto the unsteady table, sloshing soup over the bowl’s rim onto the table. “Matilda, I am aware that you are no longer one of us, and you live in a castle on the hill and swim in gold coins, but you cannot snap your fingers and have whatever you want.”
Matilda was a little miffed by Belzar’s attitude. However, she allowed it, reckoning that he was still sore about the “reward” he received for turning her in.
“Who do you think you are, orc?” Luka spat, shifting his bride off his lap.
“Luka, please allow me to clear up this slight misunderstanding with my dear friend,” Matilda pleaded.
Luka’s eyes burned a hole through Belzar’s head. He didn’t take too kindly to Matilda being disrespected—publicly, no less.
“As you wish.”
“Wonderful. Belzar, would you join me for a walk?”
The orc smirked at her. “Do I have a choice?”
“Of course.”
“I find that difficult to believe.”
“Let me be the first to remind you that we’re all friends here.”
“And must I be the first to remind you that over a month ago, you were beseeching anyone who would listen for their assistance with ending the vampires? King Alesi, are you aware of her disdain for your kind?”
“She tells me every day,” he answered promptly.
“And you still seek to make her the queen of your people?”
“She’ll be a queen of all people.”
“You should be cautious of a traitor,” Belzar warned.
“You speak as if you didn’t overturn her to me, who, more likely than not, had morbid plans for her. She should be cautious of an opportunist such as yourself.”
“That was business,” Belzar huffed as if that would soften the blow of treason.
Luka scoffed indignantly. “Say what you will to ease your slumber at night.”. Chairs scraped against the dusty wood floors, and the two men stood in a face-off. Matilda knew it would be bad if they came to blows, so she intervened, placing herself between them. “How about that walk, Belzar?”
“As you wish,” he growled, still staring Luka down.
“Very good. Ezra!” Matilda called, stealing him away from a lithe fae he was trying to appeal to in the corner. She gagged when he caressed the fae’s cheek before leaving his side. She’d never known Ezra to be affectionate, and to see him in action was nauseating.
“Let’s make this quick, shall we? There are pressing matters I must see to.”
“My safety is more important than pleasing your carnal side,” Matilda taunted.
“I beg to differ.”
“Will you be bringing him back to the castle?” she asked curiously as she tightened her cape around her.
“I would never. He is to meet me behind the stables in ten minutes.”
“Please refrain. My bedroom window faces the rear of the stables.”
“Then I advise you to keep your curtains closed.”
She rolled her eyes and followed Belzar until they walked side-by-side on the cobbled streets. She clasped her hands behind her back and waited for him to commence.
“I do not wish to see you any longer.”
“What have I done to make you ask this of me?” Matilda questioned. She had an idea, but she wanted to hear him to be a man and say it to her face.
“I have been your friend for years. I have sheltered and fed you and have offered myself to you several times, not only as a bedmate but as a husband.”
Ezra snorted in the distance.
“I have offered these things to you, yet you fall willingly into the arms of the same vampire king who eliminated most of your bloodline. The same vampire king you claim to want to usurp. I cannot make any sense of it, but I have determined you do not stand for anything, Matilda Helsing.”
The orc fell silent, and Matilda pondered her response. She was saddened but not shocked.
“Do you not hear yourself, Belzar? Yes, you’ve been a friend, sheltered, fed, and offered yourself to me; however, you and I know these things were offered as a condition.
Your friendship was never altruistic in nature, but I hear your stance loud and clear.
Because I never offered you my back, you no longer wish to be friends.
I also do not believe your bullshit excuse for handing me over to King Alesi.
You wanted me to pay for not giving in. You are not in love with me, Belzar.
In fact, you despise me, and that is okay because you will not be the first, and you will certainly not be the last. I wish your selfishness only extended to me, but we both know you mistreat Belzara.
You work her like a slave in the tavern while you make her job harder and drink away your modest yet livable wages.
You don’t lift a finger, and she must bear all the responsibilities on her shoulders.
She has dreams and aspirations besides the tavern, but I’m sure you’re aware of this.
You simply do not care because it doesn’t benefit you.
You stated earlier that I can’t have anything at the snap of my fingers, but I assure you I can.
I am taking Belzara with me if she wishes, and nothing you can do will stop me.
I stand for nothing? That is laughable when you all took my protection for granted.
The residents of Night Falls were always at the forefront of my actions.
I risked my life for you all, and what did I get in return?
My people are still my first priority, but now, I’m protecting you all differently—through my connection with King Alesi.
Those taxes you hate paying so much were lowered because of me.
That means more coin for you to spend on ale and whores—you’re welcome.
With all that said, I did not lose a friend in you; you lost a friend in me. ”