Page 6 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
“Really?Because you look like prey to me, pathetic, weak!”he shouts, shoving the young woman back in line.
“Yes, it depends on what I am hunting,” I tell him, unperturbed by his advancing undead figure.
Pushing the maid’s hands away, I undo the laces at the front, sliding my arms out of the long sleeves and removing my shorts that I also made.I nearly slap her when she tosses them aside.
Hearing a gasp, I turn to see the vampire has stopped, and his eyes roam over my naked body with a look of surprise on his face.Even the snake-eyed woman has stopped the vicious scrubbing to stare at the markings that lace my skin and glow beneath the dim lighting.
“Well, aren’t you full of surprises?”Malachi’s voice startles me.I glance over my shoulder at him.
Malachi tilts his head, and his eyes travel over my naked body almost thoughtfully.“I knew that woman was a witch, but I didn’t realize you were.”His eyes trail the glowing marks down my arms, and his hand reaches out to touch them before he stops abruptly and clears his throat.
“I’m not a born witch.But I had an excellent teacher,” I answer him before my eyes flick to Neil, the vampire leech.“But we can test that, Neil.I’m sure everyone here knows how easy it is for a witch to send an entire species into extinction.Well, almost.”I sneer at the man.
Granny was the real witch, so in a sense, it is in my DNA, but I wasn’t born with her powers.My mother was only half witch and my father was human, but before I was born, the lycans killed him.
“I guess she is right then, Neil.I’m sure we all remember just what a witch is capable of.”Malachi smirks at the vampire, who grumbles something and saunters back to his undead groupies.“Though, here in the high Kingdom, being a witch willonly get her killed quicker.You best pray that you die in that maze.The kings have hunted all witches into extinction, or I thought they had until I found you and the old witch.Besides, parlor tricks won’t work on the kings or help in the maze, and since you aren’t a born witch, it means you hold no true power.”I tilt my head to the side.
“If that is what you want to believe,” I tell him.Though he is right, I am not at all powerful like Granny was, but I can still do damage.Maybe not to anyone here, but all energy can be manipulated.
“Maybe the king is right, and you do stand a chance, not that you will have one once you meet his sons.Witch or not, no magic taints the kings or will save you from them.You best pray Regan doesn’t see those markings.He hates witches the most.”Malachi chuckles darkly.I shake my head, uncaring for his words, then turn to find all the women staring at me.Well, not at me, but at the runes burned into my flesh.
Nothing hurt more than when I received those brands.My arms are covered in them.Afterward, Granny crushed and ground crystals and water lily petals into the fresh burns while cleansing and blessing me.They look more like tattoos that slither up my arms in intricate patterns.I screamed my throat raw, and when the one on my lower back and the one up my spine was pressed against my skin, I fainted.
Granny said they were for protection, to awaken my chakras, enhance my senses, and give me a fighting chance.I was just shy of eight years old when I received them.I step in line behind the women.They shuffle their feet to move away from me as if I carry a disease.
Now I am a predator to these human women, yet they would never be my prey; I value all life, unfortunately, even the dick wad with wandering hands.Sighing, I wait for my turn.Clearly, even when walking to my death, I won’t be granted a friend.
Lina snatches me away from the others, digging her nails into my flesh as she manhandles me.She doesn’t like that I’mnot screaming and crying.She begins to scrub my skin raw with the pumice stone just as she had scrubbed the girl before me, and the way I watch her face as she works seems to make her uncomfortable.
The human maid scurries between the other prisoners, giving them towels and clothes as their sopping wet hair drips on the floor, but I don’t look away from Lina’s snake-eyes.Her grip tightens, and she scours my flesh as if the ruins could be peeled from my body with enough force.If she’s trying for a reaction, she won’t get one from me.
Lina scoffs in disgust and throws her pumice stone back into the bucket of cold water, and as the young maid approaches me with clothing, I snatch them from her.
As I’m untangling the clothing, I hear drunken slurring from outside the stables.Deep baritone voices fill the air, and Malachi smirks at me.“The king’s sons have arrived to see this year’s tributes.”He chuckles, moving to push the massive doors open even wider.
Malachi glances back at me.“I would dress quickly.The kings don’t like witches—born witch or not.Your skin screams you practice the art.”
I slip the thin white long-sleeved dress on, the fabric clinging to every part of me, leaving nothing for the imagination.No wonder no one survived the mazes.Who the heck could run in a dress this tight?It clings to me like a second skin.I am just pulling down the skirt when two men stagger into the room, smelling heavily of liquor.
“Well, well, well, what have we here?”one man asks.His suit is a little wrinkled, and his dark brown hair is tousled like he has spent a good chunk of the night running his fingers through it.
“Ladies, this is King Zeke from Covethollow Kingdom, one the three kingdoms under the High Kingdom rein,” Malachi quickly introduces.
The other women cower, backing away as Zeke saunters into the room, followed by another man with the same darkhair, piercing blue eyes, and a very similar muscular build.It is apparent that they are brothers, possibly twins.
The man doesn’t seem as drunk as he eyes us and sneers in disgust, his eyes roaming over us like we are bugs he wants to crush.He purses his lips, clearly disappointed with this year’s human sacrifice.“This is King Lyon of Vaingold Kingdom.”
He turns his head to look at Malachi, who motions toward us.“Are introductions necessary Malachi?They’ll be dead soon anyway why bother?”Lyon asks.Yet, as he does, a third man enters the stables.Everyone instantly straightens as he strides in, eyes straight ahead and hands behind their backs.
This man even makes my heart flutter in my chest.There is something sinister and disturbing behind his demonic gaze.His aura is just as dark and exudes more power than that of even King Theron.I swallow the urge to whimper.Auras never really affected me, but his is absolutely menacing.“And lastly, King Regan from Darkheart Kingdom,” Malachi continues his formal introductions.
My eyes roam over King Regan, taking in his black slacks and button-up shirt that clings to him, showing off the bulk of muscle hidden beneath it.His smoldering eyes are burning with hatred, yet they are equal parts alluring and terrifying.His short coal-black hair blends into the stubble along his jaw, creating shadows on his cruel yet handsome face.
Some part of me calls out for the man but, despite his attractiveness, there is something sinister and lethal beneath the facade of sophistication that tells me I should run from this monster.He stops next to his brother, but this man is taller by almost half a foot.Despite his intimidating height and bulk of muscle, he moves gracefully, like a lion stalking its prey, about to rip out its throat.
He does not even try to hide his disgust.The man glances at us as he moves closer, each step calculating and predatory.It sends an ice-cold shiver up my spine and fills my stomach with dread.
Chapter 4
