Chapter 95 Untitled Chapter

Chapter 95 Untitled Chapter
HYBRID RINA

Several hours earlier…. 

Hybrid Rina made her way through the crowd that had gathered in the arena, keeping her eyes fixed on the reserved seats where the king and his high ranking dignitaries would be seated.

They would make their appearance right before the new moon appeared. As she walked down, she scanned each face in suspicion.

She knew the sorceress wouldn’t come as her real self, she would appear in the disguise she had perfected in the palace.

But who was she? One of the servants? A slave? She looked up. Or maybe even a high ranking official to the king. Which would be the ultimate irony, a betrayal the king would never see coming.

Goddess, she would love to see his face when the truth unravels.

Something drew her attention to the other side of the arena, where a group of moon dancers did their thing on the open floor, captivating the attentions of the audience.

It was Beta Cain and he looked agitated, as if he were looking for someone. She wondered who that was but she turned so he wouldn’t see her.

She had her own problems to deal with.

Just then someone jostled her, before she could even tell them to watch themselves, she felt the slice of the knife as it sank deep into her sides.

“What the hell—?”

She started swearing but when she turned to look, she could see no one, only people pressing into her from every side. 

Fuck! Pressing her hand to her sides to halt the flow, she pushed her way out of the sea of people and limped to the shadow of a pillar where she leaned against it, breathing shallowly.

She raised her hands in the moon light to see it red with blood. Dang it.

Luckily, the rat had used a sharp silver knife so the wound was clean. Silver didn't have much of an effect on her but mixed with aconite, that was another thing altogether.

Whoever’s dirty job it was to kill her hadn't done their research well.

Unluckily for him, when she caught them, they would wish they had.

Stripping off the edges of the dark blue cloak she was wearing, she cleaned the blood from the wound and when she’d stemmed the flow, she tied the strip she's torn around her middle underneath her soaked dress.

Great. Just perfect. Her dress was ruined. The blood had 

left an indelible stain on it but there was nothing she could do about that for now.

Just then the official’s voice rang, the same dwarf of a male who officiated for the Luna challenges and introduced the king together with his entourage as they took the most elevated seats in the Arena.

As the king took his place upon the throne-like seat, Rina was already making her way to the center stage. She had a boon to collect, injury or not.

The crowd parted for her, sensing the dangerous intent that awaited anyone who stood in her way. Smart werewolves.

When she got to the aisle nearest the center, she jumped down from it with ease and turned to face the king, lifting the hood from her face.

The room stilled. The crowd hushed.

All eyes turned to the drama unfolding beneath them.

“In your own words your majesty,” Hybrid Rina could hardly keep from sneering the words, “You said that my boon would be granted on the night of the new moon. It is now time and I’ve come to remind his majesty of his promise.”

From his raised dais, the king raised a royal brow.

“How brazen of you. I didn’t request for your presence yet you appear before me.”

Hybrid Rina made a show of bowing low. “Forgive me your majesty. In my excitement I forgot to observe royal protocols.” She cocked her head. “I simply thought that the crowd would be curious to know just what it is that I would request.”

The crowd yelled in excited agreement and Rina smiled knowingly. People have always been easy to manipulate.

She eyed the king who was observing her with a frown. She knew he resented the fact that he had to grant her a request. He probably wished he could command his soldiers to cast her away into the deeper parts of his dungeon.

But there was no way he could do that. The crowd was on her side in this.

“Nevertheless,” it was Beta Ryan, Cain’s father who spoke this time, his gaze bitter, “you should’ve waited until you were called upon. That’s the proper way it is done in the palace.”

He harrumphed, his voice telling her quite plainly that he didn’t think she was proper or good enough to be queen.

But that was the last thing she wanted. He could take the title and shove it up his untanned ass.

“I am but a former kitchen slave. I have no idea what a, uh, proper way is as Beta Ryan says. How can I ever hope to learn it?” 

The king’s eyes narrowed, his unpleasant expression telling her that he didn’t appreciate the amused tone she was using.

Rina's smile widened the more.. 

Then a bright, wicked gleam entered into the king’s eyes and he cleared his throat, the heavy gold rings on his fingers glinting.

“Well, since you’re here already, we can’t let you go now without your boon, can we?” He leaned back. “So Miss Rina, what is it you want from me?”

Hybrid Rina’s smile almost slipped. He was agreeing just like that? Her eyes sharpened. What was he playing at?

But she didn’t let any of her inner thoughts show on her face. 

Then she opened her mouth to tell the king her request.