Page 21 of Prey of the Lycan Queen
“So I have to sacrifice at least one, then?” I ask her, and she smiles while Regan silently gapes at me.
“Only those who are worthy of you will be marked by you. There are grave consequences for marking someone unworthy. They’re the sins. You’re their virtue. Only you can choose if they have earned the right of forgiveness, but if your heart and head don’t match and there is doubt?” She pauses considering her words carefully. “We could end up in another round of karma to be dealt, just something to keep in mind.”
The information weighs heavily on me, but I understand the cost of my mother’s actions and the burden that now falls on my shoulders. As I sip my tea, I think of what James said about the three kings. It makes me wonder what I’ll find when I visit their kingdoms. This is my destiny—to right the wrongs of the past and carve a new future for the lycans and witches alike.
Or condemn them.
And as always, it begins with a choice—Theron’s sons.
Chapter Thirteen
The city lights twinkle in the darkness as we make our way home, having spent the day with Kelly. The stars reflect off the slick streets that are still wet from the evening rainfall, and the air is heavy with the scent of damp earth. It’s a comforting scent that reminds me of back home in the caves.
Regan has been strangely quiet all day, but his silence now seems sullen and serious. He has one arm draped protectively around my shoulders, his touch warm and solid, yet there’s a tension in him that sets off warning bells in my head.
“Regan,” I begin, breaking the silence. His gaze remains firmly fixed on the road ahead. “Regan,” I say a little more firmly, and this time, he turns to look at me. There’s a shadow in his eyes, something I’ve never seen before, and it makes my heart clench with unease. “What did your uncle mean when he said some of them aren’t deserving of me?” I question, my voice barely above a whisper. “What will I find when I visit Zeke and Lyon’s kingdoms?”
Regan sighs deeply. “I haven’t been to their kingdoms in years, Zirah. Not since . . . Not for a long time,” he confesses, his voice heavy with emotion.
“But surely you must have heard others speak of their kingdoms,” I ask, but his eyes stare blankly ahead again, and it’s clear I’m not getting anything out of him.
Gnash brushes against my leg, and I glance down, running my fingers through his soft fur.
“What’s most important right now is that if we go to war with Bloodtaric, we’ll be outnumbered. Your only chance of beating the Vampiric King is with all our kingdoms behind you. It’s the only reason he hasn’t challenged us for our kingdoms before now. When we are united, he knows he stands no chance. I can guarantee that word has gotten back to him, and he’s already looking for a weak spot. He’s just waiting for you to slip up or cast us out. That is when he’ll attack.”
The oppressive silence on our journey home seems to echo the weight of his words. I have been thrust into a war that I was not prepared for, yet I have no choice but to stride forward.
I focus on keeping my voice strong despite the trembling in my heart. “Then there is no time to delay the inevitable. I will leave tomorrow to visit each of the three kingdoms.”
Regan studies me with surprise in his gaze, and his eyebrows furrow as he attempts to form a response. He draws in a deep breath and shakes his head. “Are you sure about this, Zirah?” he asks.
“Positive,” I respond. “We can start with yours.”
Regan seems to consider his words as he opens his mouth to speak before promptly closing it again. He swallows thickly and shakes his head. “No, Lyon’s kingdom is closer,” he says quickly, and his change in demeanor alarms me. Why did he hesitate?
I decide to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. We will soon find out what secrets are being kept within his kingdom walls. I just hope I haven’t made a mistake, either way, from Kelly said I can reverse it if I choose.
Near the castle, the lights filter through the trees, and I can see Zeke and Lyon speaking with Malachi by the gates.
When Hunter and Shadow catch my scent, they bark and dash ahead, their tails wagging furiously. Zeke’s and Lyon’s heads snap in our direction, their eyes widening at the sight of us.
As we approach, I can’t help but notice how tense the atmosphere is, and I immediately know that something is wrong. Malachi, Zeke, and Lyon all wear grave expressions, and their hands are clenched in tight fists. Something happened.
“Zirah!” Zeke exclaims. “We didn’t expect to see you back before dinner.”
“What happened?” I ask, my heart racing at the thought of what could have gone wrong.
“You need to come inside,” Malachi says urgently, turning on his heel and leading us toward the castle gates.
As we walk through the grand entrance hall and into the throne room, I can sense a dark and sinister energy lurking. The air is heavy with tension. Lyon steps forward and places his hand on my shoulder. “Zirah, there’s been an attack,” he says gravely. “One of our scouts was ambushed by the Vampire King’s guard, another was taken.”
My heart sinks. This is exactly what Regan warned me about. We are already at war, whether we like it or not, and if King Slavic is willing to strike at our scouts, it means that he is more than willing to launch a full-scale assault on our kingdoms.
“What can we do?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
“We need to prepare for war,” Zeke says with a shrug like it is no big deal. “We’ll send out more scouts and gather as much information as possible about the vampiric forces. We need to know what we’re up against.”
Regan wraps his arms around me from behind, holding me close in a protective embrace. “Don’t worry,” he whispers in my ear. “We’ll keep you safe.”
