Page 28 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
“You refuse?”the king questions, and I glance out at the crowd, all watching me with tear-stained faces.
“I don’t want your blood money,” I sneer, and the king smiles.
“Very well, now choose!”he growls.Malachi seizes my arm and pulls me down the steps to the rows of women.
With a closer look, it’s easy to see how young the women are.Some of them barely look fifteen.They all shake and whimper with tears streaming down their faces.Malachi leads me past each one and makes me stop.I shake my head at the first row.
They are far too young—just young girls.I glance over my shoulder at the king, who has an unreadable expression on his face.Malachi waves the first row off, and they rush to their loved ones.
The second row is no older than the first.The girls whimper and plead, and their parents plead in the background as Malachi leads me to the end.He dismisses the next row and motions toward the next, but I shake my head.
“You must choose,” Malachi states, but how do I choose who dies for my freedom?
Turning, I see the three kings watching me, and I move toward the stage.“Are you confused about whom to choose?I can ask my sons if they have a preference?”King Theron asks.I glance at the three kings, who look furious with their father but remain quiet.
“I know Zeke likes the innocent ones.All virgins, come forward!”The king orders, and the women whimper.
“Remember, my guards can tell who is pure or not.Now step forward!”The king orders.The girls stumble forward, clutching each other and crying.They are all so young, but some of them moving forward are a little older.
“Let me help narrow it down for you,” the king states, looking at his sons.
“Lyon has a thing for brunettes.All brunettes step forward,” The king orders.Around twenty women step forward at various ages, while those with blond or red hair are led away.The king then turns, looking at Regan.
“Regan is harder, though.He’ll fuck anything with a hole that is willing to die on the end of his cock.”The king ponders, steepling his fingers under his chin.
“Regan likes curvier girls, tits and ass, Father,” Zeke sneers while glaring at me.
“Fine then.Guards, grab the bustier girls.”The girls scream as they are ushered forward and the rest are released.“Now, that should make it a little easier.Go ahead, Zirah.Pick twenty to enter the trials.They will enter tonight and be put through the three tests.”
I gulp, turning to face the human women.Most look defeated and have given up hope.Around forty remain, and most of them are younger than me.
“You have ten minutes, or they all enter the maze,” King Theron states.The women wail and cry, and my heart breaks for them.
Walking around, Malachi orders each to state their name and age.Knowing their names makes it harder to decide, but if I don’t, they will all be forced to enter.Looking at the crowd behind the guards, I see tearful parents and lovers watching in horror.
The girl who steps forward whimpers.Her lips quiver, and her blue eyes shine with tears.“Leila, ma’am.I’m sixteen,” she murmurs, looking to the side of me.I follow her gaze to see an old woman who reminds me of Granny, though she holds a walking stick and looks rather frail.A young boy sits at her feet with his knees pressed to his chest as he sobs.He can’t be more than six years old.
“Please, they have no one else to take care of them,” the girl whispers, and I turn my gaze back to her.She’s in a maid’s uniform,not just any uniform either, one that matches Shelley’s.I swallow when the king calls out.
“Time is up.Since you failed to decide, the guards will lead all of the women to the maze.”The women scream as the guards move in, and Chaos ensues.Families cling to their daughters and lovers as the guards pry them away.
Panic floods my system.I don’t know where to go or who to help.The king watches me with a smug smile, and his sons watch on with gritted teeth.
Regan steps forward.“Father, some of these girls are children.Send them home!”Regan snarls.
“She was given a chance!”King Regan shakes his head and balls his hands into fists.
“You’re signing their death certificates,” he snarls at his father.The guards force them to the cobble passageway behind the stage that leads to the castle.As the first one climbs the steps, I feel sick to my stomach.
“Wait!”I call out.Everyone quiets, and the guards stop while everyone turns to me.The king raises an eyebrow at me.
“I’ll do it!”I snarl angrily.
I can’t force these girls to their deaths for my freedom, nor could I live with knowing any survivors would be left to suffer at the hands of the three kings.
Chapter 18
“You’ll do what?”King Theron asks, though his smile growswider.
