Dining with Wolves
“There is no need to fret, my King.”
“No need to fret? You did not see her! She was licking the chalice and suckling on her gown like a babe.”
“Relax,” Ezra insisted.
“How can I when it’s possible she may have turned?”
“It would be in your favor. She becomes immortal, and you shall have your fated mate for eternity. Must I remind you that the child is a hybrid? I would believe it was typical for a halfling vampire to crave blood.”
“I concur; however, she was so… animalistic. It was unsettling.”
Ezra huffed. “I can imagine, considering how feral the woman was before you dumped your seed in her.”
Luka laughed and held his hands behind his back as they traversed the hall. “May I confide in you?”
“You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t dump your shit in my lap.”
“I must confess that I despise Queen Matilda’s lady-in-waiting.”
Ezra snickered, and his snickers soon turned into uncontrollable snorts.
“I fail to see the humor in my situation.”
“Do tell why you despise the orc whom your betrothed loves dearly.”
“The orc’s speech and mannerisms towards Matilda are brutish to the point I question if she is truly friend or foe.”
“That is their true nature. Point me in the direction of a gentle orc, and I’ll call you a liar. Matilda is a somewhat decent judge of character and can handle herself. Must I remind you that I was hostile to her after her arrival?”
“Indeed. What has changed?” Luka questioned, noting the far-off look in his former advisor’s eyes.
“Once you look past the fact that she’s human and a notorious vampire executioner, it is easy to see how capable she is.”
“She is no delicate flower, is she?” Luka said with a small smile.
“No. She is riddled with thorns. The wedding quickly approaches. Are you prepared, my King?”
“That depends. Should I prepare for a red wedding?”
“House Belmore,” Ezra commented.
Luka nodded, understanding the gravity. House Belmore was allied with House Marquis. It only made sense they would seek revenge.
“How certain are you?”
“They are not a viable threat as of yet.”
“It is the ‘as of yet’ that has unnerved me. What shall I do, Ezra?”
“I am only a lowly bodyguard, not an advisor,” Ezra reminded him.
“We have no time for banter,” Luka responded, speaking lowly in a tone that suggested his patience was beginning to wear thin.
“You could preemptively eliminate them; however, an action such as that could potentially lead to an uprising from the remainder of the houses and increased unease and distrust from the populace. My biggest fear is that the noble houses would align with Prince Lykaon and potentially help fund a war agenda to usurp you from power. I have not heard of a direct threat to you nor the huntress.”
“So, we wait,” Luka said tiredly.
“So, we wait,” Ezra confirmed.
Hustling feet met them at the end of the corridor. A servant bowed before informing them that their esteemed guest was seated in the dining hall.
“Shall I return to be by Queen Matilda’s side?”
“No. Come with me, Ezra. Tobias, inform Belzara that her services are required. She is not to leave Queen Matilda’s side until I return.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the servant responded with a short bow before rushing off.
“Let’s make haste, Ezra. We wouldn’t want to keep the wolf waiting.”
***
Luka’s top lip curled upward in disgust as he watched David tear into the flesh of a goat. He moaned loudly as he chewed. His moans reflected the pleasure he felt as he consumed the tender meat. He sounded like he was in the throes of passion, and Luka found him to be unnecessarily inappropriate.
“This,” David stated, holding up a goat leg, “is far better than the rats I feasted on in my cell.”
“I’ll forward your compliments to the cook,” Luka spoke tightly.
“Where is the queen?”
“Worry not of her whereabouts.”
“‘Tis a shame. I had envisioned this feast differently,” David admitted.
“How so?” Ezra queried, bracing himself for David to say something inappropriate and give Luka a reason to send him to the stocks.
“I thought I’d gorge myself on a meal fit for a king while staring at a pretty mouth and supple tits.”
Ezra jumped to his feet and wrapped his hands around David’s neck in less than a second. Luka stood slowly and waltzed around the length of the grand table while his former advisor attempted to sever the foolish wolf’s head from his shoulder.
He hovered over the wolf at Ezra’s mercy and tsked. “Release him, Ezra.”
“But he—”
“I’m aware. Release him.”
Ezra growled in David’s face before obeying his king. The wolf sputtered and coughed as the color slowly returned to his cheeks.
“I-I-I’d watch him if I were you,” David complained.
“And why is that, wolf?”
“He attacked me as a covetous lover would. King Alesi, are you certain your most trusted advisor only delights in men? Perhaps he’s gained a taste for women?” David laughed raucously. “I’d keep my eye on this one around your queen.”
“Are you finished with your aimless babbling, wolf, or shall you return to the dungeon?”
Luka smirked when trepidation struck the emaciated man’s features. He returned to his chair at the head of the table.
“Beta David. Excuse me… David.”
A smile returned to Luka’s lips when he noticed how the man bristled when he dropped his honorific.
“As you’ve been informed, you are no longer the beta of your pack, and you’ve been reduced to a pauper—not a coin to your name, a shirt to your back, or a roof over your head. You barely have a name.”
David glared at Luka defiantly and said, “All of that may ring true, but there is something valuable that I have.”
“And what is that?”
“A purpose. I would not be at this table with you if I did not have a greater purpose. We are wasting valuable time discussing what I already know. Tell me what I don’t know,” David demanded.
“Be mindful of your tongue, wolf,” Ezra snapped.
“I’m certain you wouldn’t mind minding it yourself,” he taunted with a wink. Ezra scoffed and looked away.
“Moonshire is in desperate need of a leadership change,” Luka announced.
“Some would say the same of Night Falls,” he mumbled as he returned his attention to the goat. “I’d bet everything I had most would say leadership change was needed in Night Falls.”
“You can’t bet with an empty hand.”
“It may be empty for now, but it won’t be for long.”
Luka sucked his teeth and wondered if David’s snark was worth it. The man was nearly a skeleton, but his confidence was Goliath-strong.
“How does King David sound to you?”