Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings

~Zirah~

“I'll do whatever you want, take my kingdom, take everything, don't take this from me,” he pleads. My lips quiver as I peer down at him, but I can't risk the curse; he has not redeemed himself, and I won't risk Lyon, who has.

But he's not the only one breaking at my actions; I love him, but sometimes love is not enough. We all have a part, and mine is to choose, even if it kills me doing it. Regan presses his face into my stomach; I can feel his tears soaking my top, just as the ones sliding down my face soaking my cheeks.

“I, Zirah, Queen of the high seat of Arcana Empyreal Dominion, reining heir of the four founding Kingdoms, reject you, King Regan of Lupine Kingdom.” I stammer out.

“No... no... no!” Regan bellows, his claws slip out, slashing my legs as his sin comes out, the true monster he was cursed to be, but I am expecting it, and as my hand falls to his neck, my magic flares, stunning him. His claws sink into my thighs like hooks, yet I ignore the pain; it's nothing compared to the pain burning through my chest. Peering down at him, Regan's eyes are dead, yet filled with agony. He shakes his head violently as the tears spill over, sliding down his cheeks in streaking rivulets of agony and grief.

“Under the moon's ethereal glow,

King no more, I strip you so.

My mark, once your saving grace,

Now fades from its sacred place.

My mark, his virtue, erased from his skin,

Leaving only the trace of his echoing sin.

My wrath upon Wrath, a poetic slate,

His kingdom falls; his death I dictate.

By the power of the moon, I hereby decree,

Your death is near, so mote it be.”

Regan’s agonized scream is enough to make my stomach twist on the ceiling as he writhes, clawing at his throat with his claws while my mark burns and fades. Alone and abandoned, he screams until his voice cracks and his throat is raw. Finding myself unable to listen to his wails, I turn away. His agony is fiercer as he drops to the ground, my mark searing from his skin. Gnash whimpers and I pray; I hope I didn't just seal his fate along with his owners. Yet unable to listen to his agony, I move toward the door to find Zeke waiting.

"You didn't leave?”

“You really rejected him.” he breathes.

“You didn't think I would?"

“I had a feeling you would, but I hoped you wouldn't,” he tells me, opening the back door of his car. “I can't leave with you; I have to sort out the mess here.” I tell him.

“I'll handle it; Malachi has buses on the way,” comes James’ voice.

“And what of your mother's rapists?” I ask, looking at Zeke before peering at the dungeon.

“I'll also handle it, go, you still have one kingdom left, and I have a brother and nephew to bury, hopefully, no more,” James states.

“You knew?" I ask him.

“I did, and so did Regan; it's why he brought me with him.” My brows furrow in confusion; he knew I'd reject him, yet he came anyway.

"And the prisoners?" I ask Zeke. He glances away, as I take him in. He's hiding something. "They're already gone." he breathes.

"Excuse me?"

"One of the drones reported back to Regan about you being here. Not long after I left, his drones escorted them out. They're on their way to mine shafts already. Regan tried to clean up, he'd hoped you hadn't visited there yet.” I stagger back.

"There were children in there," I gasp.

I'm too filled with emotions and guilt to speak, so instead I just nod. Zeke steps forward, his dark hair looking black in the moonlight that pierces through the windows; it falls across his face with a sinister air, making him appear more menacing than ever before. He is Lyon's opposite, yet his menace doesn't quite match Regan's.

He wears an ebony suit fitted against every muscle on his body — he has always been attractive, though now takes my breath away — and even under such a dark atmosphere there is something strangely handsome about him as he holds out both hands towards me without saying anything else. His body is strong and muscular, his eyes are intense as they scan me like I'm prey about to be pounced on--yet underneath it all lies something else; something compassionate but also resolute that speaks louder than any words could ever make.

"If we are leaving, we need to go now, to get to my kingdom we must pass the borders of the vampiric kingdom as we approach the highway." Zeke is calm amidst chaos - nobility even in darkness are traits few are able to muster, yet he masters them effortlessly.

Taking his hand, I silently consent for whatever needs to come of this night's events, knowing some things were inevitable regardless of how hard we tried to avoid them. So I let Zeke drag me to the waiting limo.

Regan, however, storms out of the castle and attempts to go after me, but James steps in his way. "Regan, no. What are you doing?" James pleads with him.

"She's not leaving me!" Regan overcome with the very sins that plague him and moves toward us, Zeke opens the rear door and motions for my wolves to hop in, they obey immediately, yet I can't tear my gaze from Regan who is trying to get past his uncle.

Regan looks defeated, but still raging within him was something darker than before.

"He won't hurt my uncle. James can take care of himself, I promise, Zirah," I chew my lip for a second, debating whether to leave James with his raging nephew. Sighing, I slide across the seat, trusting James can handle him.

"How far away is your kingdom?" I ask Zeke as the car starts to move. My voice is monotonous, dead sounding.

"A few hours, away from here."

"And what will I find once there? Is it worse than here?"

"You'll find out soon enough.” he states, turning his gaze to the window. I do too, only for a gasp to escape me when I see Regan storming toward the dungeons. My eyes widen when I see the bottle in his hand, the guards run the moment they spot him. James chases him, and I move toward the door, only for Zeke to grab me.

"There was no way he was letting them live, you know this," Zeke whispers just as I see Regan open the door, set fire to the fabric protruding from the bottle. My stomach drops, there are quicker ways to die, but before I can say that Zeke's hand goes across my eyes, blocking me from watching. "How long have they been down there?" I murmur just as I hear their screams.

"17 years." Zeke whispers.