LYCAN'S POV
The sound of clashing steel echoed through the training hall: “Whoosh! Whoosh!” My little brother, his face set in determination, charged at me with a flurry of strikes. I parried each blow with ease, a smile spreading across my face.
“Lycan, easy!” he begged, trying to appear cute despite his flushed cheeks. “It's just a game,” I teased, enjoying the banter.
“Just let me win,” he pleaded, his eyes sparkling with a mix of desperation and amusement.
But I wasn't about to give him a free pass. With a swift counterattack, I knocked his sword from his hand: “Whoosh!” It clattered to the ground, and I offered him a nod of approval.
“That was remarkable, kiddo,” I said, genuinely impressed by his skills.
But instead of basking in the praise, my little brother scowled at me, his face reddening. “Stop it, Lycan! You just let me win!” he accused, his voice rising in indignation.
I chuckled, holding up my hands in a defensive gesture. “If I hadn't gone easy on you, you would still have lost,” I said, trying to placate him with a grin.
My little brother huffed, crossing his arms over his chest, but I could see the faintest glimmer of a smile playing on his lips.
I couldn't help but chuckle at my little brother's indignation. Just moments before, he had been begging me to let him win, and now he was upset that I had obliged. I smiled to myself, shaking my head in amusement.
“My prince,” a guard said, approaching me with a towel. I took it from him, wiping the sweat from my brow.
“What's on the agenda for today?” I asked the servant, who had been waiting patiently nearby.
“The king has requested your presence,” he replied, his expression neutral.
I let out a low groan, feeling a familiar sense of frustration wash over me. “Why can't Father just let me be?” I lamented, tossing the towel aside.
It seemed like, no matter what I did, my father always had some new task or responsibility waiting for me. I longed for a day when I could just train, or spend time with my brother, without the weight of royal duties hanging over my head.
But that was a luxury I couldn't afford. Not when I was the future king.
I wiped the sweat from my body with the towel, feeling a sense of trepidation wash over me as I made my way to the king's chamber. I pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside, bowing low. “My king,” I said, my voice respectful.
The king, seated behind his large oak desk, waved a hand at me. “Sit, Lycan,” he instructed, his expression serious.
I took a seat, trying to prepare myself for what was to come. I had a feeling that this meeting wasn't going to be pleasant. The king began to speak, his words flowing rapidly as he discussed matters of state and diplomacy.
I nodded along, trying to appear attentive, but my mind began to wander. I caught snippets of his conversation, but it was clear that I wasn't fully engaged.
The king's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. “Lycan,” he called, his voice sharp. “Were you listening at all?” he demanded, his tone annoyed.
I felt a surge of guilt, knowing that I had been caught. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “I…I apologize, Father,” I stammered, trying to salvage the situation.
I didn't want any fight today I just wanted to do my thing “Father” I bowed apologetically. Likewise, I wasn't sorry “I asked you a question,” he said.
I had no idea what he had just asked me. My mind had wandered, and I was lost in thought. “Yes, Father,” I replied, answering a question I hadn't even heard, hoping to avoid prolonging the conversation.
The king nodded, seemingly pleased with my response. “You can leave now with my trusted servant,” he instructed, his voice warm with encouragement. “Make sure to take plenty of food for the journey.”
I rose from my seat, my mind still reeling from the sudden turn of events. It was then that the king dropped a bombshell: “You agreed to go with the spy to the Elves' Kingdom, and I must say, I'm proud of you.”
My eyes widened in shock as the king stood, preparing to attend his court meetings. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. What was he talking about? I hadn't agreed to anything!
I opened my mouth to protest, but the words caught in my throat. “What I didn't…" I started, my voice trailing off as the king turned to leave.
He paused, looking back at me expectantly. “Yes, Lycan?”
I swallowed hard, trying to find the right words. But before I could respond, the king's servant stepped forward, gesturing for me to follow him.
“It's time to go, Your Highness,” the servant said, his voice firm but polite.
I hesitated, feeling like I was being swept up in a tide of events beyond my control. But with the king's eyes still on me, I knew I had no choice but to comply.
Panic set in as I realized the enormity of what I had agreed to. I was too young, too inexperienced, and too vulnerable to undertake such a perilous mission. What if I was killed by sunlight? The very thought sent a shiver down my spine.
“Ahhh!” I screamed in my mind, alarmed at my stupidity. How could I have agreed to this? I must have been out of my mind.
But it was too late now. The king had already departed, leaving me to ponder the gravity of my situation. His parting words still echoed in my mind: “You will make a good leader, son.”
I felt like I was going to be sick. I immediately flopped backward onto the bed, my head spinning with worry. Not only that, but I buried my face in my hands, lamenting my fate.
My name is Lycan, and I'm a prince of the vampire kingdom. My father, the mighty King Valois, rules over our kind with wisdom and power. I have a younger brother, Luca, who's always getting into mischief and mayhem.
As a vampire prince, my life is not without its challenges. I've been trained in the art of combat, and I possess supernatural strength and speed. But despite my royal upbringing, I've always felt like an outcast. I long for adventure, for freedom, and for the chance to forge my path.
But fate has other plans. With my father's announcement, I'm thrust into a world of danger and uncertainty.