Page 17 of The Dark War

“But, baby,” I whined again, glaring at the red-headed fool. I wondered if his carpet were the same colors as his drapes.

“He said I can’t kill anyone!” Torin growled inside my chest while Giana was chastising him. Giana had more of a mouth than Clara. She wasn’t afraid to nip at Torin in the ass from time to time. My Clara knew how to handle me. She had me melting just by giving me my pet name.

“Babe,” she cooed, trailing her finger around the small wolf tattoo with her foxlike markings I recently had placed on my arm. “Let’s hear Osirus out.” Her voice was barely a whisper, making me listen to the soft pants of her breath. Her eyes glanced toward Everett, who was slowly backing away, and Finley, who had barged in at my outburst.

“Don’t you go anywhere.” I growled, pulling Clara into my arms. Turning around so I didn’t have to see the nasty pre-pubescent beard he was trying to grow, I nuzzled into my mate’s neck. Her legs went around my waist as I felt her hand leave my neck, waving at the fae to leave.

This was bloody insane. How could you have a damn battle—actually, a fucking war—for the crown if I couldn’t kill anybody?! What was the point? Might as well let those stupid fae soldiers just walk into the tent and ask for a fucking tea party. My breathing picked up, thinking of what type of mess we had gotten into. We could have been walking into a bloody trap.

“My big Alpha,” Clara cooed, wrapping her fingers around my unkempt hair. It had grown the past few months. Clara had really enjoyed pulling on it in the bedroom, and hell, I’d grow it out as long as she continued to yank on it when I ate her pussy raw. “Let’s hear him out. I’m sure there is a reason. If you are a good alpha, we can play a game.” My head perked up at ‘game’. Fuck, even Torin was rolling around on his back, wagging his tail like an idiot.

Clara had become more adventurous, even while pregnant. Now that she was without pup, the possibilities were endless.

“What kind of game?” I grumbled, trying not to show how excited I really was. I didn’t want to look too desperate. Shit, I was. I liked her games. Like the one where she dressed up as some dominatrix in that leather skirt and pleasured herself in front of me, tying me to the bed and making me watch. I wanted that again. Torin purred too loudly, making Clara giggle.

“A racing game,” she purred into my ear. “With obstacles.” Clara got my attention at obstacles. I loved a challenge; Torin demanded it. “What do I have to do?” My hand trailed down to her ass, squeezing the plumpness from the curve of her back.

“Well” —she sat up in my arms—“it’s a race to capture as many fae soldiers as you can, without killing them.” I groaned, putting my forehead to hers. This was gonna be fucking hard. “You are to capture as many fae soldiers without mortally wounding them, either. Don’t be tricky.” She kissed the shell of my ear. Leaning to her lips, she pulled away. “But you have to capture more than any other werewolf from our pack.” My claws lengthened, pulling her skin with the bluntness I willed. Clara gave me a heavy challenge, but I could do it. I would show her I was the best mate for her.

“And the prize?” I growled. Clara giggled like it was the funniest thing in the world, her finger tracing the steel crescent moon necklace around my neck. Rolling her bottom lip into her mouth, biting it with the fangs that were slowly growing, her green eyes impaled my blue ones.

“Uninterrupted playtime, no baby, no alpha or luna duties, and an unlimited amount of whipped cream, some ropes, feathers, and play outfits of your choice.” Her eyes fluttered innocently. My mate was doing this for the sake of both of the kingdoms, to save us from having to go to war later with the Golden Light Kingdom under the wrong rule, but I couldn’t help but be intrigued at the idea that my mate thought she was in control.

Who was I kidding? She was in control.

“And something else to consider,” she whispered seductively. “Mother says my heat is approaching.”Fuck.

My Clara in heat was a fun Clara. Damn, she could go almost a week straight. My grip tightened around her ass. “Does that mean I can put another pup in you?” I growled lowly. Pushing her up against the post of the tent, my cock ground into her core, having her moan my name as I continued to assault her.

“If you think I’m an okay mother,” she whispered more seriously. “I’m already away from her now, and she is only weeks old.” One hand went to cup her cheek. “Baby”—I kissed her lips—“there is never the ‘right time’ to have a pup. Just like you will never be prepared to be queen, a werewolf, a mate,” I whispered. “You could wait your whole life for the ‘right moment’ for something, and it will never come,” I cooed, pushing her hair behind her ear. “You are an amazing mother. I couldn’t ask for anything better.” My mate smiled, still hesitant to believe me. “We don’t have to have another pup right now. Having your heat arrive is enough of a prize.” Clara laughed, her beautiful smile flooding her cheeks.

“Can I get a preview of the prize? You know, to make sure the goods check out?” My hand lowered, cupping her pussy, palming it so the friction would drive her wild. Her arousal went deep into my lungs until Marcus cleared his throat.

Fucking shit, just three minutes, and I would have had her creaming in my hand.

“What?” I barked, gently putting my mate down. She pulled her hair back into the ponytail that had ripped out of her hair. “Even on a battlefield, huh?” Marcus smirked as he walked in. “King Osirus requests you in the new royal tent since you destroyed this one.” We all scanned the splintered wood on the floor. Shrugging my shoulders, I grabbed Clara’s hand and walked to the new tent.

King Osirus’ followers were nothing but farmers with pitchforks and fairies that wouldn’t be able to stay in full human form for more than a few hours. Osirus’s army, which was now under the complete control of Cosmo, was going to crush us. I ran my fingers through my hair, Clara took several steps to my one until I pulled her up.

“Stop!” she whined. “I’m a warrior right now, not some dainty thing,” she grumbled. Chuckling in her ear, I kissed her cheek. “You will always be my dainty little mate. Besides, the fighting hasn’t begun yet.”

Entering the tent, Osirus was wearing different battling attire. None of the fancy metals adorned him the last time I saw him fight, helping Clara with Marcellus. The cape was gone, no gold cuffs around his hair and wrists. He was down to the bare minimum, his chest open like the rest of the fae eating the light of the light sources.

“Now that the information has sunk in, are you ready to do this, Alpha Kane?” Osirus’s tone was clipped as he flipped through the pages of maps, most likely of the underground tunnels of the castle. Clara stepped forward, being the more diplomatic of our pairing. She stood at the table, her back straight and her hands ready to write notes on the parchment that was handed to her.

“As mentioned before, the least amount of casualties possible. In fact, I don’t want any,” he repeated the phrase. Marcus shook his head, crossing his arms in disbelief. Hell, I was too. What was he trying to accomplish?

“There is something wrong.” Osirus’s voice strained. “I don’t know what it is, but they all so willingly took to Cosmo without hesitation, many of the soldiers who have followed me for years under a haze or fog. The only soldiers that have remained dedicated are the ones I see daily. Such as Everett, Finley, and Braxton, and my close attendants, Peoni and Primrose.”

“You think that there could be a spell they are under, then? Fighting against their will?” Clara asked. Osirus’s lips were now in a pursed line. He nodded. He waved for one of his untrained soldiers, dressed in nothing but linen pants and a worn tunic. Setting a small darkened glass vile, he bowed. “Thank you, Drew. You may ready yourself. We attack as soon as the first light source hits the trees to the west.” Drew bowed again, leaving the tent.

“What’s that?” I stepped up to pick it up. To any ordinary wolf, this would look like a werewine flask that could be easily concealed in a coat pocket or dress pants. The intricate design of the glass was purposeful, even though there was no set pattern. “That”—Osirus pointed—“is something I haven’t seen before. I was hoping you two would know. As I sent Melina away, I found it on the outskirts of the palace grounds. I sent it to a small coven who gratefully decided to join the cause. The only thing they could find that would be of use was a drop of vampire blood on the inside.”

“It’s a pretty bottle,” Clara mused, looking through the small rimmed glass. “Was it entirely filled with blood at one time?” Osirus shook his head, taking the bottle back. “No, they mentioned other dried herbs and spices, maybe a fingernail or fang of some animals. It may be nothing at all. I just found it interesting it was near the palace walls.”

Clara scribbled on the parchment in front of her, drawing the glass vile along with notes of Osirus’s words. Clara had grown her knowledge in just a few short months. Her mother had tutored her well, learning to seek out information that she may or may not need in the future and filing it away in her own library she had created herself.

“If you find more, let us know,” Clara mused, shoving the parchment in her pocket. “If you find it strange, it must mean something.” Osirus hummed as two more farm soldiers approached. “The first platoon is ready for you, Your Majesty.” Primrose, a fairy with bright pink hair pulled back into a neat bun, held a sword at her side. “Peoni is still on patrol. Last word twenty minutes ago. The first wave of Cosmo’s soldiers are coming, making their way here by sunset.”

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