"Speak carefully, Father," Rolfe growled.
"Oh really?" The king raised his eyebrow at him, his horns curling and becoming darker. He pointed to Iona. "You want to marry this werewolf who was the Dark Witch, who worked according to Etaya's plans, who was with dark forces and at the moment who knows that she is even sane. Why would you marry such a woman?"
Rolfe's Adam's apple moved up and down. "Because she is my mate and because I know that she is not the Dark Witch anymore. Release her at this moment for she is not your target. I am. So take me instead of her. I don't want her to stand in your shitty palace even for a moment." His eyes went to his siblings—two brothers and his sister, who were standing in their tunics and armor. They looked coldly at him with their green eyes and he returned the favor.
Ileus' lips parted at his response. Prince Rolfe was more admirable than the entire demon royalty multiplied by hundred.
The king tipped his head back in a short laugh and then said, "Even I don't want her to stand here." He waved his hand to the guards who instantly walked to Iona, gripping her upper arms. They pushed her roughly and forced her to kneel. When she didn't comply, they kicked her behind the knees and she had to kneel. She stifled a cry as her knees hit the black stony floor.
"Iona!" Rolfe growled and rushed towards her only to be held by three guards and one who pulled at his chains. A guard pulled his sword out and placed it behind her neck. A shudder passed through her body as she felt the cold steel at the back of her neck. Her braid had fallen in the front. Panic filled her chest.
"Don't," Ileus snarled. He didn't pull against his shackles, but his voice was carried through the air, jagged, measured and dark.
When Rolfe pulled against the guards until his wrists were bruised, his mate instinct clamoring him on the inside like a rough blade of a sword, his father said, "I would like you to consider your next move carefully, Rolfe."
Rolfe's lips quivered as he watched his mate, kneeling before the man he hated the most in his life. All he wanted to know as to who it was who gave away their presence, their location? He would kill him slowly and painfully. He calmed himself when he saw that the guard had drawn blood from her neck. His chest rose up and down. It would be foolish to go all in rage, when the sword was sitting on her neck. He wanted her to get out alive. He wanted Ileus and the rest to get out alive. He said, "Let them go and I will do whatever you want me to." At this point of time a lifetime of prison for her safety and freedom seemed welcoming. "Iona has nothing to do with all this. This was all my plan and I roped her in or whatever you think we were doing."
A cold, malicious smile spread on his lips and he tilted his head to rest it on his palm. "But you were very well aware of what you were doing, weren't you?" He looked at his daughter and then sons. A woman entered through the gates behind them. Her hazy face in the dim torch lights of the throne room came into view gradually and when it did, the room fell silent.
Ara.
She came and stood right beside his daughter. A smile crept on her lips.
"Tell me one thing Rolfe: why did you become an ally of the two of the most deadliest enemies we have in this world."
"Because they are not the enemies. Your enemy is Etaya, not them." He looked at Ara. She was his trusted soldier, one who had been so close to him all the time. So, she was the snake in the sleeve? No wonder most of his projects were destroyed by the king when they were in the middle of it. With Ara's help he would come to know about his progress and then destroy it only to put brakes to his plans. And he did that to spread fear in his subjects by attacking none other than his own son. Rolfe vowed to the Lore silently—if he came out alive from this fiasco, he would kill her slowly and painfully.
The king clicked his tongue. He looked at the guard who had held the sword on Iona's neck. He raised it to strike it down.
"Nooo!" Rolfe shouted as he looked wildly at him. He wanted to protect his mate.
"You will suffer for breaching your loyalty to the demon kingdom. This animosity runs deeper than the times. Etayalar Aramaer vowed to the Lore to come again and again until the kingdoms of Vilinski and Galahar became one. Do you even understand the gravity of the responsibility?"
"You bastard!" Rolfe shouted. "You are blind. Can't you see that they aren't your enemies? Why are you so blind in your arrogance?"
"Do you know Prince Rolfe that I had planted Ara as my spy for the last four years now? She was feeding me with all the information. How you plotted against me or how you wanted to project yourself as the rebellious child of the king?"
Rolfe's eyes burned with fury. He looked at Ileus and guilt flickered through his eyes. His gaze traveled to Kaizan, who was so silent, as if ready to attack at any time.
"What can Iona do to you?" said Ileus in a sharp, angry voice. "Why don't you take me?"
Ileus didn't struggle when the guards pulled his chains in the opposite direction to stretch his limbs painfully because he dared to speak to the king.
"I always used to wonder how it would be to meet you, Ileus. The Dark Wizard," said the king. "How do you feel when you are not able to use your magic and can only shift like the regular shifters in your packs?" He leaned forward. "You are married to the woman who is the heir of Vilinski. It would be fun to kill you and see her wither away to death." He laughed. "I don't even have to go to seek her. I know you are mates. I know you were prophesied to be mates. And that's why we came together to do something about this stupid prophecy. We did everything to keep you away from her. Hell, we even kidnapped your sister and turned her into a Dark Witch." He stood up on the dais and stepped down. "But nothing could deter you two, could it? You escaped with Princess Anastasia from Vilinski." He gritted his teeth. "And ever since our world has descended into chaos."
Edyrm took steps towards Ileus. He stood barely at an arm's length away from him. "But who would have thought that my foolish son would serve you on a plate and bring you to me?" He gazed at Rolfe over his shoulder. "Thank you, Rolfe." He chuckled. He looked at Ileus again. Then he took a few steps back and rubbed his hands on his lips and suddenly his gaze landed on Caleb.
