Page 11 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
“Lions and vampires.I am only doing two tests, not the usual three,” he tells me.
“How about you remove the vamps and lions?”Lyon tilts his head with a wicked smile making his lips tug up.He knows where I am going with this, and he knows no one will survive.We would then have another year before the next trials.
“What do you suggest?”Father demands.
“We send in our wolves,” I tell him, motioning toward Gnash.
“That’s it?”
“Is it not enough?”I ask him, a glint in my eye, and I watch him look at our three wolves.
“The winner would have to get used to our wolves anyway, Father.”Lyon shrugs.“If a woman survives them, I may see her worthy of hunting.”
“Those beasts are more savage than the lions,” he snaps.I nod because he’s right.The number of lions we have gone through because our wolves wanted to play is shocking.When they are hungry or following orders, they can be bloodthirsty and savage.
“Come now, Father.Lyon and Regan are right.If you want us to enter the games, we will, but we want some say in it,”Zeke chimes in behind me.
My father growls but nods once.“Fine, have it your way.But I will listen to no arguments about having to enter the maze in the morning.”He turns on his heel and stalks off inside.
I press my lips in a line and move toward the balcony, peering over.My eyes roam the maze before falling on the women entering this year.Shaking my head, Lyon chuckles behind me.“They don’t stand a fucking chance now.”He laughs, and my eyes land on her.
The girl from the stables who I should have killed.
Something nags at me.Something I can’t place, and I hold her gaze, which appears curious yet unafraid.Lyon and Zeke come over just as Malachi pulls her back in line with the others.
“This is supposed to be a game,” Zeke growls.
“It still is.Now it just ends in marriage!”I tell him, turning back and heading for my old room to get out of this damn suit.
“If one survives,” Zeke says, mockingly.
“Not a chance.”Lyon chuckles.
“Gnash, come!”I call, and he chases after me.
Chapter 7
Malachi urges us toward the maze entrance, and thewomen begin to panic, turning and running, yet I stay rooted to the spot, staring up at the large hedges.Guards snatch the other women trying for their freedom, shoving and pushing them toward the entrance.
Snarls and growls suddenly fill the air, and we all spin to see the three kings standing in a line with three huge wolves snarling by their feet.The animals are white as snow with blood-red eyes.They don’t look like ordinary wolves, but they also don’t look like werewolves either.
These must be the savage pets Malachi spoke of, raised from pups by the kings.They are larger than normal wolves, but they don’t have amber eyes like the werewolves.
“Get them ready.I need to find out what is going on.The kings aren’t meant to enter until morning,” Malachi orders one of the guards before stalking off up the hill.
I try to listen closely, but a guard seizes my arm and hauls me closer to the maze entrance with the other women struggling and thrashing against their hold.
“Well, it was nice meeting you ladies.You’re all fucked now,” a guard announces, and the girl from my community whimpers.“Change of plans, you don’t need to fear the lions.”He nods toward the kings walking down the hill with Malachi.
“The kings have brought their pets to play,” the vampire guard tells us.The women sob and cry while I watch them draw closer.“When the horn sounds, the wolves will be released.Survive the night and you shall be rewarded.”
I scoff as we are all shoved into the maze’s entrance.
“Well, start running, the kings haven’t fed them yet.They are hungry,” the vamp taunts.The others instantly take off, but I stop just inside the entrance, turning and looking up at the high hedges surrounding the path the women rushed down.My eyes scan my surroundings as I stare at the intricate vines.
“Seems this one wants to die first.”The vampire laughs, and I glare at him over my shoulder, walking in a little deeper.
“As long as they are all dead by morning, I don’t care who dies first.”I hear one of the kings’ voices, my guess is Zeke.
