Page 5 of Prey of the Lycan Queen
With word of his shame echoing through the castle halls, my mother became his prime target, but like the small man he is, he pitted his sons against each other to exact revenge. Whoever killed her got the High Kingdom—a prize that his three sons longed for above all else.
So much death, all for nothing.
The moonlight bathes the path in a silvery glow, casting eerie shadows around me as my feet take me further away from the three kings.
As I leave the square, Kelly calls out softly, “Zirah, wait.” Her once-naked body is now shrouded with a dark, hooded robe, and as she approaches, she pulls the hood from her head.
I realize I didn’t even stop to thank her or the coven. “I’m sorry, Kelly. I just need to get away from them,” I say, casting a nervous glance back at the kings, who are still on their knees in submission.
Kelly stops before me, and her kind eyes fill with concern. She slowly reaches out and brushes a hand down my arm, and her touch is warm and comforting amid the chaos of my thoughts. “Zirah,” she says softly. Then all at once, she pulls me into an embrace. “Don’t worry about them right now, but come by my store tomorrow, okay?” she says, pulling away.
I nod hesitantly. “Did you know who I was all along?”
Kelly smiles sadly and nods. “Yes, but it was too risky for me to say anything. I knew from the moment you stepped into the store.”
“How?” I ask.
“We can sense power, and yours is out of this world. Oh, and the fact that choker didn’t burn you,” she says, straightening it, and I gasp, tracing my fingers over the leather. She reaches around my neck to unclip it. “Power can be consumed, but it never dies. Look at the back,” she tells me, and I turn the choker over.
Runes are carved into the thick leather, the same ones that run from my neck to my pelvis, and then a rune I’ve never seen before sits dead center, but unlike the others, this one is carved into the back of the giant stone.
“I don’t recognize this one,” I tell her. It looks like a crescent moon that has been turned into a bow with an arrow crossing through it.
“That’s because it is not a rune but our coven’s emblem. It is the symbol of Goddess Diana, who is the goddess of chastity, fertility, the moon, and also justice. She was often linked to Hecate, the Greek goddess of witchcraft and the underworld. She is also your ancestor. You’re a high priestess like Litha and like your ancestor, Goddess Diana.” Gnash whines at my feet, and I glance down at him. “I’ll let you go, but come see me tomorrow, and I can explain more. For now, rest,” Kelly says before walking off.
As she leaves, I spot King Theron walking up the path toward her. He pauses nervously. I can’t help but smirk as Kelly lurches to the side and shouts, “Boo!” King Theron jumps, trips over his robe, and lands on his backside, and Kelly saunters off, cackling to herself.
My amusement is short-lived when I notice the kings chasing after me. I hastily turn and make my way back to the kingdom, ignoring their calls, but it doesn’t take them long to catch up.
Regan grabs my arm, but I shove him off. “You don’t get to touch me! Not after what you all did!” I snarl at him.
“We tried to save you, Zirah,” he argues, looking hurt.
“You did. You’re right. But I wouldn’t need saving if you had saved my mother to begin with!” I retort, anger flaring inside me.
Regan tries to touch me again, but I take a step back, and my wolves growl menacingly, forcing the kings to back up.
“Zirah!” Lyon calls, his voice full of desperation.
I glare at him, my eyes brimming with tears. “What now, Lyon? You want me now that you see I’m your mate? Now that you know I’m the answer to breaking the curse?”
He looks away guiltily. “That’s not true,” he whispers.
“What was that? Because you had no issues leaving me with Zeke!” I growl at him, turning my glare on Zeke. “And what have you got to say for yourself?” I snarl at Zeke.
“I’m sorry,” he murmurs.
“That’s it?” I ask.
“No, that is not it, Zirah. We fucked up, and you can rub that in our faces all you want, but you are our mate!”
“If I choose for you to be mine!” I scream. “The tables have turned, Zeke, and after what you’ve done, there is no way I’d choose any of you!”
“Z—”
“Don’t call me that, Regan.”
“You wouldn’t choose me? You said you would once.”
