Your Majesty?
Lucas sat up in attention and Arthur frowned. What was this old man talking about?
“What?”
“Tom what do you mean?” Diana asked glancing at Arthur though Tom hadn’t torn his gaze away from Arthur. He shot up from his seat and rounded the table.
Rex slowly sighed with relief, “I knew it...”
Arthur looked at Rex, “What? What is it?”
He looked at Tom warily, “You… You are, aren’t you?”
“Are what?” Arthur asked.
“Arthur. Your name is Arthur, isn’t it?” He asked, his eyes glowing with hope as Arthur stiffened, staring at the man in shock.
He turned his head to growl at Rex, “Where did you find him? Damn it! I thought, I thought he was dead—”
Dead?
“At the edge of the forest,” Rex said as Arthur looked between the two men. “He came from a v
Arthur had hoped he was wrong, but a part of him knew.Owen’s voice rang in his mind."We will meet again in the future… When that day comes, you will die, brother.”If what these people said was true. Owen was his cousin and the child of his father's killer and the leader of the rogue’s attack on the pack.He was kin and enemy. Worse yet, Owen had already sworn to kill him.Arthur cursed at the turn of fate. Maybe he wasn’t cursed in the way the Brown Valley pack thought he was, but what else could he call having family member itching to kill him but a curse?“Damn it,” Arthur hissed. “I've seen him.”Rex gasped, “When?”“Before your patrol found me and Daphne,” Arthur growled. “He attacked Daphne... I think he recognized me. He called me brother.”Tom frowned, “Well… you are related, but I don&rsquo
He was late again, later than any of the other patrol members. She had stayed up until he found his way back.Tonight, it was nearly midnight when he returned, coming in through the door almost silently. There were leaves and twigs in his fur, but he didn’t look as though he’d been in a fight.“Arthur?”He seemed startled that she was still awake and shocked. She would almost say caught, but he shifted and gave her a tired smile.“What are you still doing awake? You should rest.”“I was worried…” Daphne said as he sat at the table across from her. “You’ve been coming back later and later. Is everything okay?”He averted his gaze the way he had been for the past few days.“It’s nothing…”“You’re… acting suspiciously.”He winced, “Well…”“Are you looking for the
He was late again.Daphne looked down on the training pitch from the top of the hill as the patrol returned without Arthur. She’d lost count of how many times they had returned without him at this point, and she knew from these past days that she wasn’t going to get any sleep without knowing where he was. She turned from the training pitch and headed into the village toward Mamie’s house. He’d be back at home by the time she arrived and the walk helped work out some of the nervous energy in her.Didn’t Arthur know how much she worried? Didn’t he care? She got the sense that he was used to living on his strength and having no one to worry about him, so she could understand if he wasn’t used to having someone waiting for him to come home. Still, it didn’t seem that he was trying to get used to it or act accordingly.Mamie answered the door with a sweet and sympathetic smile.“Hi, Daphne… Art
Arthur was certain there was envy on Daphne's face. When she talked about Blade and Mamie’s love story, he could tell she thought it was a romantic story. Her voice seemed to be a bit longing as she spoke about it. Admittedly, Blade and Mamie’s story was romantic, but the emotion he felt was more of chagrin and anger.Why would Daphne envy Blade and Mamie? Because they have something that Daphne did not have? Because she couldn’t love him? If she loved him, she wouldn't be envious of other people's relationships.Who was he kidding? He might be royal, but it was a curse as far as he was concerned and who could love a madman? Having a mate may make him able to control himself more, but it meant nothing if it would make Daphne miserable.Arthur's heart sank to his stomach, and Lucas let out a growl of pain. Their mate didn't love them. He was almost certain that she would never find a way to love them either.He hadn’t even realized
The next morning, she woke alone though it was obvious that Arthur had come inside sometime during the night. She ate breakfast, dressed, and headed into the village to visit Mamie and the newborn baby. The entire village seemed to be buzzing with excitement. She knocked on the door.“Come in!” Mamie called through the door. “He’s awake!”Daphne chuckled and opened the door, “I guess I’m late to the party.”Mamie’s eyes were bright as she looked at Daphne as she walked into the room where the bed was set up. She looked a bit tired, but her eyes were bright and in her eyes was a squirming bundle.“Daphne!” She grinned. “You’re in luck. He’s been asleep when everyone else has come.”Daphne drew closer cooing at the bundle as Mamie handed the baby to her.“His name is Joseph, the little troublemaker.”Daphne chuckled. The baby's face was
“No,” she shook her head as her eyes burned with tears. “No. No. No.”It couldn’t be Anthony. It couldn’t be!Anthony had been one of the only people on the patrol who had been kind to Arthur and remained kind to him. He was so young, he couldn't just die like this!She could save him, couldn’t she? Her blood had managed to heal Arthur’s wounds. She had never used it to save someone so badly injured, but she couldn't just watch Anthony die in front of her. It would at least give him a chance, right?She looked up at Arthur for confirmation. His eyes widened slightly before furrowing. She knew he didn’t want to agree but she worried her lip.“Please… h-he’ll die—”Arthur looked down at Anthony, gritted his teeth, and nodded stiffly, speaking softly.“I'll block other’s view, so hurry.”It was dark, and everyone's attention was
There wasn’t a living person of the patrol that would be well enough to go patrolling for at least a few weeks except for Arthur. If that wasn’t enough, Mamie’s newborn made it nearly impossible for Mamie to resume any of her usual duties to the pack, so Daphne took over organizing food and needs for the pack as well as organizing the support for the infirmary.Daphne sat in the infirmary, cutting strips of cloth to be used for bandages while the antidote for wolfsbane brewed nearby under a doctor’s watchful eye.Anthony had been placed in the very last cot in the building with a dedicated doctor watching over him for the past few days. While he wasn’t dealing with the hazards of the poison, he was in critical condition and every day that he stayed unconscious was another day the doctors couldn’t be sure if he would survive.Blade walked into the infirmary for his daily check as Daphne stood to gather the used bandages for was
Arthur sneered, his gaze fixed on the alpha who had spoken. The man didn’t even have the backbone to look at him directly after he’d said it.“I suppose you’re talking about me, right?” Arthur curled his lips in disgust. “I’m not a cowardly weakling like you who won’t even offer aid to the people who make sure his pack sleeps well at night, but I’m not a god either.”The man flinched.“And I don’t care about anything but that bastard, Owen.” Arthur thought back to him. “I have a score to settle with him. What happens the rest of it is up to you all to figure out.”Silence fell over the room before Rex cleared his throat.“If not for Arthur, I'm afraid we would have more casualties after yesterday's attack. Arthur is powerful on his own, but Owen commands the rogues. Under his horrible leadership, it’s a problem that’s beyond just one person,
Arthur was in a bad mood, but as Daphne held onto him, she couldn’t help but laugh. They’d left the cottage about an hour ago and they hadn’t gone for. If she didn’t know better, she would have sworn he was walking in circles just to avoid leaving.“Oh, Arthur, it won’t be that bad.”“We deserve at least a month,” Arthur grumbled walking through the forest.She laughed, “Is that why you’re walking so slow?”He didn’t answer and she laughed harder, leaning into the warmth of his glossy, golden fur. He’d been grumbling about heading back to deal with the mess of the werewolves and vampires for the past few days.“We don’t have to go back,” Arthur huffed. “You don’t think Nicole can’t handle those cowards?”Nicole would just as soon kill half of the pack leaders than put up with bullshit from them, but that wouldn’
Morning came slowly, waking Arthur. Daphne’s scent filled his nose and he turned to look at her, grinning at her sleeping face. As if she felt him looking at her, her eyes snapped open and their gazes met. Arthur turned, pressing his lips to hers, unable to resist the need to be closer to her, to be sure she was still his Daphne.Daphne sighed, pressing into the kiss with a little sigh. The sound sent heat through his blood until need and desperation pooled in his hips and he felt his cock swelling.Daphne gasped, as he angled his hips against hers. She looked up. Arthur’s face heated. He was going to apologize, to make some sort of excuse, but he didn’t get a chance.In a flash, he was on his back with Daphne hovering over him. He was a bit shocked at her speed and strength, but his wolf growled in contentment. Did werewolf mates tussle with one another? He’d always imagined it as sweet and gentle, but the urge to flip them over again an
Arthur chuckled at her thought. Did she think he wanted to talk about it now? He was running on adrenaline and relief. As soon as he got somewhere he knew was safe for them both, he’d probably collapse, curled around Daphne.“I haven’t changed much, Daphne.”“That’s not true,” Daphne said, “You have more scars.”Arthur shrugged, “They’ll be gone in a few days.”“Not on your skin,” Daphne said, sliding a hand over his chest as she looked up at him, “In here.”His heart sped up as their gazes met. He wanted to protest, but he couldn’t find the words. She was right. So much had happened. He’d been so used to not thinking about it before Daphne, then worrying about it with her, that losing her had left him floundering.She stepped back, taking his hands and leading him towards the house.“Come on. Let’s take a bath. I th
Arthur opened his arms trying to sweep her into his arms, but she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him and sobbing into his shoulder. Fear filled him and anxiety. He didn’t know what to make of her sudden apology or what he should say in response.“I’m so sorry, Arthur! I should have never gone! I shouldn’t have left you. I should have made Mamie and the others leave me behind, at least they would have been alive.”Arthur’s eye burned with an unfamiliar sensation. He didn’t remember the last time he’d cried or if he’d cried at all, but the tightness in his chest felt like it was going to burst. It sounded like she was regaining her memories, but had she regained all of them?She hiccupped, “The baby… It wasn’t your fault. I…”Arthur tightened his grip on her with a relieved sigh, burying his nose in her neck.“Daphne,” he whispered. “You r
Daphne didn’t speak as they watched the fire rage, burning through vampire and werewolf corpses and surrounding John as he panicked, limping as if his leg had been injured. Daphne narrowed her eyes as he tripped on nothing.He tumbled, head over heels onto the duchess’ body, and shrieked, drawing back as the fire began to devour him.“No! Your Majesty, please!” John crawled towards them. His face twisted with desperation and terror.Daphne didn’t look away, meeting his gaze as he realized that there was nothing he could say to escape his fate. His expression turned determined as he got to his feet and tried to shake off the fire that had reached his jacket. He tore it off but another burst of fire started on his pant leg and he went down again.“That lesson about tying your boots properly,” Nicole said lightly, “That is why.”Her lips twitched into just a bit of amusement as he began to scream a
Daphne rushed to where his body stopped, pulling him onto his back as tears fell down her cheeks.“Just hold on!”Owen’s hand grabbed hers as she settled her shaking hands over the hole in his chest. Blood was bubbling up and pooling around them. Her magic warmed and stuttered trying to close the hole.“Run…” he gasped before his last breath escaped him and she could no longer feel any spark of life in him.“No…” she sniffled. “No! You can’t–”A snarl drew her attention from above. Osborn had shifted and started to barrel down the side of the hill towards her. She lunged aside, barely dodging his attack, and grabbed her sword, turning into his next attack as he skidded, turned, and lunged at her again.His claws met her blade and shoved her back and off her feet. She tumbled back and landed hard on her arm.He was too strong f
Arthur ran towards Osborn, snarling at him. Osborn didn’t seem worried, watching and waiting for him before moving at the last possible moment. He shifted into his human form so Arthur’s attack, just barely missed him before shifting back into his wolf form to snap his jaws at Arthur’s leg.Arthur shifted mid-air and rolled across the ground. His heart was hammering. If he hadn’t, there was a good chance that Osborn would have taken his leg off or at least wounded him seriously.Osborn was nothing like Owen. He had to be more careful. Osborn chuckled and turned towards him.“Hello, nephew… shame your mother manage to get you out in time… I’m impressed you have a bit of battle awareness.” Osborn laughed, dark and furious. “Next time, I’ll just take your head.”Arthur got to his feet, eyeing Osborn. They watched each other before he heard the duchess’ footsteps.&ld
Tom looked up in horror.He couldn’t believe it, but there was no mistaking Osborn even with his missing eye. He was wearing the same armor he’d gone to battle against the vampires in though it bore the signs of battle. Behind him were other werewolves in the same armor, glaring across the clearing.How could he be alive?His heart lurched as Arthur got to his feet and shifted into his wolf form at Daphne’s side. He’d been overpowered by a half-vampire woman. Arthur didn’t stand a chance against Osborn! What were they going to do?Even with the Royal family’s ability to control wolves, Arthur didn’t have the years of combat experience or the deep-seated rage that Osborn did. His legs felt weak as he turned to look at the others who looked confused and had started to engage the turned werewolves.It was uncanny and deeply disturbing to see Osborn commanding them. What would Dean have thought of his brother now
Her tone was as sharp as a blade. She seemed to glide towards him and swung at him, barely missing his shoulder.She was much faster than he remembered. He felt the force of her swing as it missed him and knew she’d gotten stronger too.“Daphne! Stop. I don’t know what they’ve done to you, but this isn’t like you–”“You don’t know anything, murderer!”His gut clenched and for a moment he heard the furious chants of the Brown Valley pack at the back of his mind.He pushed those thoughts away and dodged another attack.“You killed my son!” Daphne screeched.Her words struck him. His blood ran cold, “What?”Daphne growled at her, “Don’t play dumb, werewolf. You were happy to sleep with me but you couldn’t bear the thought of half-vampire son, could you?”The bubbling joy of hearing that she was pregnant died as the rest o