Chapter 18

Zirah

“You’ll do what?” King Theron asks, though his smile grows wider.

“Free them, I accept. I’ll marry one of your sons!” I tell him.

“You accept?” the king questions.

“She said she did, now let the underage girls go, Father!” King Regan orders. He pays his son no mind, and King Regan stomps across the stage, stopping at the steps.

“Free them!”

“No! Zirah doesn’t get to keep changing her mind. She chose this.” King Theron states, his eyes on me.

Lyon shakes his head and steps forward. “No, father, these are not women, they are children. I am not that kind of fucking monster. Regan is right, she agreed. So let them go.” King Theron looks at Lyon and then Zeke. Zeke shrugs, uncaring, and I grit my teeth, turning my gaze to him.

“They’ll all die anyway, so what does it matter?” Zeke questions, and King Theron smiles.

King Lyon and Regan shoot an angry look at Zeke. “Lead them to the maze. Zirah, come collect your payment and freedom.”

“No! I agreed to marry one of your despicable sons. Now let them go!” I yell at the king.

“You were given a time limit.”

“Fuck your time limit!” I cry, and a collective gasp echoes around the town square. Whispers follow, words like disrespect and the gallows turn my stomach upside down. King Theron chuckles, waving them off while his eyes flash dangerously.

“This is precisely why you would make an excellent queen. You bow to no one, but you will bow to me! My word is final. Your opinion is no longer worthy, but it seems I am at a tie with my sons. Zeke doesn’t care about these women, and neither did you five minutes ago,” King Theron says.

My eyes go to Zeke, and I clench my jaw, knowing all he had to do was agree with his brothers to let the women go, to fucking accept me in their place. The king watches me with a wicked grin, and I don’t like the game he is playing. He’s baiting me.

I tap my leg, calling Hunter to follow, and march toward the stairs. Grabbing the girl on the steps by her arm, I yank her back and climb the stairs, marching across the stage toward Zeke. He smiles deviously, and I notice King Regan and King Lyon watching me and their brother.

I look at King Theron. “Zeke agrees with Regan and Lyon,” I tell the king, and Zeke scoffs.

“Hunter!” I call, and Zeke unfolds his arms. “Agree, and I’ll give him back,”

“Oh, you’ll give him back!” Zeke threatens.

“Good luck taking him from me, Zeke!” I retort.

The crowd erupts in murmurs at my casual reference to their names.

King Theron laughs. “Your answer, Zeke, do you accept Zirah as your possible queen?” Zeke growls menacingly.

“Take the deal, Zeke,” I tell him, and he grabs my throat. Time seems to stop, and I notice King Regan, out of the corner of my eye, take a step forward.

Zeke leans down. “You dare threaten me, love?” Zeke growls, his lips brushing mine.

“I am not threatening you. I am ordering you to accept!” I sneer at him, and his hand grows tighter, cutting off my air. Hunter growls, but my fist clenches his fur, and he sits back down.

Zeke’s eyes dart to his growling wolf. He tugs me closer, his arm snaking around my waist, as he pulls me flush against him. His hand then slides up my back and grips the nape of my neck while his fingers tangle in my hair.

“Order me again, love, and the only place you’ll find yourself is in a body bag.”

I glare at him, and Hunter growls menacingly at my feet and goes to move, but I yank him back.

“Ask me nicely?” Zeke whispers, his lips brushing mine. I grit my teeth, knowing all eyes are watching to see what I will do. Zeke growls when I say nothing, and his lips crash against mine hard, his hand in my hair forcing me closer. He bites my lip hard enough that blood fills my mouth.

“I want my wolf back,” he snarls against my lips. Hunter snarls viciously at his owner, and I can feel the vibration against my leg, but I grip the scruff of his neck tighter to keep him in place beside me.

“If he bites me, I will kill them all while you watch. Starting with little Leila.” Zeke looks past my shoulder, and I know by his taunting gaze he is looking at her.

“She is why you decided. She is what made your mind up to sacrifice yourself,” Zeke laughs. “Your humanity is sickening, but unfortunately, it’s what my father likes about you. That and your inability to fear death, even when you’re in its clutches.” Zeke cranes my head back by my hair.

“Zeke!” Lyon snarls.

“No, she must learn her place, especially in the presence of a king!” Zeke snaps, shooting his brother a glare. Blood dribbles down my chin from where he bit me, and the warmth trickles down my neck.

Zeke moves his thumb, smearing my blood across my throat before licking the trail from my chin to my lips. His tongue traces the seam of my lips, and he pulls me closer.

“What will it be, love?” he purrs, and my lips part. Zeke smirks before kissing me as if he owns me, his tongue tasting every inch of my mouth, and he growls when I don’t kiss him back. I have no idea what game he is playing, but he is deliberately putting me on display, to show the kingdom that I will submit, that I will never measure up to him or be his equal, that I will bend to his will.

Granny did not raise me to be a pushover, so I kiss him back. My hand grabs his shirt, and I feel him smile like he won—until I bite him. His grip tightens in my hair, ripping the strands from my scalp, but I refuse to let go.

Until he cuts my air off completely with the hand that’s wrapped around my neck. He snarls, letting my throat go and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“You want Hunter back? Tell your father you accept!” Zeke snarls and raises his hand, but as he’s bringing his hand down to strike me, his father grips his wrist. At the same time, I let go of Hunter, who moves and squeezes between my legs protectively.

Zeke looks down at his wolf. “She hit a king,” Zeke roars at his father, and I am surprised when Regan comes to my defense.

“No, she hit her husband. If she chooses you,” Regan says, stepping forward.

“I never said I would accept,” Zeke sneers at his brother.

“But you will, or I take Hunter,” I tell him, and Zeke turns his deadly gaze back to me. He jerks his hand from his father’s grip, who is smirking deviously.

“You knew I wouldn’t be able to choose,” I tell the king.

“Correct. You, my dear, were born to be a queen. Welcome to the family.” King Theron laughs.

“How?” I question.

“Because the moment I met you, you were defiant and unafraid. My sons don’t need a woman who fears them. Every woman in the four kingdoms already does, which is exactly why I can’t marry them off!” King Theron’s eyes go to his sons, and Zeke scoffs.

“No, what my sons need is a challenge. They’re too competitive. Like all lycans, they like to hunt. But there is no use in hunting something that you can’t chase, and they will chase you, and you will run and fight back.”

My eyebrows raise. “They like to hunt?” I chuckle. For some reason, I can’t picture the three kings in hunting gear, not that they would need it, given what they are. Still, I find the imagery in my head funny.

“Something funny?” Malachi asks, coming up beside the king.

“Yes, the king’s sons like to hunt.” I chuckle. Malachi smiles, and the king’s lips tug up in the corners, also finding me amusing.

“Care to share?” Zeke sneers. I snort, unable to contain my laughter. I must look like a madwoman, but the king’s words make me laugh as I try to picture them with pitchforks. There is no doubt in my mind that his sons are predators. That much is clear when witnessing the fear in the eyes of everyone who passes them.

“I’m sorry, King Theron.” I giggle. “But your sons are clearly used to having everything handed to them. I doubt they would be able to catch a cold if they tried. No wonder they can’t catch a bride. You had me trapped in your maze, and they still caught air.”

“That was because of our wolves!” Lyon growls, stepping forward.

“Wolves! You’re a lycan, yet you couldn’t control your own pet. Sorry to tell you, Lyon, you don’t stand a goddamn chance of controlling me. The only control you’ll receive is what I give you.” I chuckle, and so does the king.

“And that is exactly why I wanted you to win. They need some competition. However, I think my sons will find they aren’t the only predators in my kingdom. One thing they will learn quickly is that there is no one deadlier than the person that holds your heart.”

King Regan scoffs. “What nonsense are you spouting about now, Father?”

“You’ll see. Something tells me you boys will be running while she hunts. As she said, you three can’t catch a cold to save your lives, so maybe she isn’t your prey after all. Maybe you’re hers. Only time will tell.” King Theron laughs, turning to his men.

“Father!” Zeke calls.

And King Theron stops. He turns his gaze to his son. “Yes, Zeke?”

“I never agreed!” he growls. The king sighs, then scratches his chin. He nods slowly. “I suppose you’re quite right. What is your answer, son? Let’s hear it then.” Zeke looks at me then his wolf before he grits his teeth.

He growls menacingly. “Set them free,” he growls, his eyes meeting mine. “I accept!” Zeke barges past me toward the castle.

“As I suspected, the stubborn boy always has to have the last word!” King Theron shakes his head, and I let out a breath. “You already hold their hearts, Zirah. Remember that. It will keep you alive,” King Theron says, stopping beside me. I look at him in confusion.

His eyes flick down to Hunter, and he smiles. “You’re holding Zeke’s right now,” he whispers, giving me a wink. He pats my shoulder and wanders off. Turning around, the guards let the women go, and King Theron heads for the castle.

“Wait!” I call out to the women as they run toward their loved ones. I move toward the king, who arches an eyebrow at me, but I step past him and take the bag of gold off Shelley. The king smirks but doesn’t say anything until I move down the steps.

“You remind me of my late wife.” He chuckles. I ignore his words, stomping down the steps to where the women have stopped. The guards step closer as if to stop me, but the king raises his hand to dismiss them.

“Leave her. Zirah, King Regan will escort you back to the castle. I must head in. It’s getting chilly, and I fear snow is coming. I can smell it.” He nods to me as I open the bag.

He is right. The cool night breeze is fast approaching, and snow feels imminent. The smell of rain in the air is slightly different, but lycans don’t feel the cold. Why would the king feel it now? My eyes move to King Regan, who looks less unhappy about having to play babysitter.

Reaching into the bag, I grab young Leila’s hand, force a small handful of coins into her palm, and close her fingers around it. Tears spring from the corner of her eyes. “Thank you,” she whispers. I nod and move to the next woman, making sure each one accepts the coins.

When I am done, I turn, finding the king’s guards gone. Only King Regan remains, waiting rather impatiently on the stage.

Climbing the steps, he stomps off ahead of me, and I whistle for Hunter to follow. Hunter obliges, running ahead and nearly knocking King Regan over. It is dark by the time the enormous iron gates come into sight, and King Regan’s phone rings in his pocket. He answers it with a growl and stops abruptly. I only listen for a second before wandering ahead.

When I am about halfway to the gate, the castle lights come into view, and I hear rustling. Turning my head to the side, I see Hunter’s tail wagging in the air between some shrubs before hearing a whimper and a sickening crunch.

“Hunter!” I hiss at him, wondering what poor creature he is trying to eat. He lifts his head, his mouth covered in blood, when I hear the critter take off into the trees separating the kingdom from the town. Hunter growls, darting after it, and I huff, chasing after him.

“Hunter, leave it!” I yell at the stupid wolf when I hear another pained yelp then heavy panting. Walking deeper, I spot him ahead. I stomp through the forest toward him. Finding him with a badger between his paws.

“Hunter, no! Bad boy!” I swat his ass, and he whines at me. Pushing him aside, I find it is already dead.

“No, bad wolf! You don’t eat—”

“Animals? He’s a wolf. Wolves hunt!” King Regan shouts, making me jump, having not heard him coming up behind me. Turning around to face him, he tilts his head to the side, his eyes glowing in the darkness.

“Yeah, but he gets fed in the castle. He doesn’t need to kill.”

“All things die, humans especially. Predator and prey. Survival of the fittest. Hunter, come!” King Regan orders, and I am surprised when Hunter listens to him. Hunter drops his head, sulking, and walks over to the king.

“Now hurry. I may not be able to catch a cold, human, but you’ll catch your death if you stay out once the snow falls,” King Regan growls, turning on his heel and walking back the way we came. I shake my head and follow.

“Isn’t that what you want? My death saves you from having to marry me.”

“I would love nothing more, but if you die on my watch, I lose my throne. So if you could save your death for when you’re with Zeke or Lyon, it would be much appreciated.”

“I’ll see if I can pencil that into my schedule while with them. Do you have a preference for my death that I should add?”

King Regan growls and glares. He apparently doesn’t enjoy my humor.

“Hunter listened to you . . . why?” the king growls, stomping through the woods, and Hunter keeps in line with him.

“Where is Gnash?” I ask, which makes him stop. I run into the back of him, not expecting it. He sneers menacingly and reaches for me, but Hunter growls in warning, and he stops.

“Stay the fuck away from my wolf.”

“Answer the question.” His eyes flick to Hunter, then back to mine, and he curses but turns on his heel again and continues walking.

“Hurry!” he calls when I don’t move.

“Nah, I’m good. I think I’ll stay here.” I call out to him, and I smirk when he stops. He really likes his throne!

“You have been in my care for not even ten minutes and are already pissing me off!” he snarls, stomping back toward me.

“Answer the question then, Regan!”

“What did I say about addressing me by name? I will not be disrespected by the likes of a fucking human!” Hunter launches at him, tearing into his arm, and Regan snarls, backhanding him and sending him skidding across the ground. Hunter whines and shakes himself before baring his teeth and growling.

King Regan roars a feral growl. “Try it once more, Hunter, and I will break her fucking neck!” Hunter whimpers, and Regan grabs me by the front of my top. Ripping me toward him.

“You’re playing games with the wrong brother. You stay away from my wolf! And me!” he growls, the sound so menacing it raises the hairs on my arms and sends a cold shiver down my spine. My heart races with adrenaline, but I know he won’t kill me. He won’t risk his throne, and that information is very useful.

King Regan laughs. “You stupid, pathetic girl. You’re a fool not to fear me, but you will. My father is wrong about you. You may have him fooled, and you may have survived our wolves, but let’s see how you fair when they aren’t here to protect you,” he growls, shoving me backward.

I stagger, landing on my ass in the dirt. Hunter whimpers, and King Regan calls his name. Hunter waits for me to get up and comes to my side. I brush my fingers through his fur. When clarity washes over me. Hunter listened to him when he found us, yet attacked him when he tried to grab me.

“They can feel you!” I exclaim, moving to catch up with Regan. “That’s why he didn’t attack you when you came close. He knew you weren’t here to hurt me!”

“Just hurry up!” Knowing I’m right, I chuckle and run to catch up to him.