Sold as the Alpha King’s Breeder

Chapter 594

Chapter 94 : Daughter of a Queen

*Xander*

“ZEKE!" the woman screamed as I wrestled her captor into the ground.

I glanced up at her, confused as she dropped to her knees and swatted me repeatedly with a canvas sack that felt like it was filled with rocks.

The man, apparently named Zeke, was hissing and moaning beneath me as I shoved my elbow into the back of his neck and held one of the wooden knives against his ribs, ready to drive it through his chest.

“Get off of him, you maniac!" the woman cried, beating me with her bag of rocks.

“He's a vampire!" I protested, throwing my weight against him as he continued to struggle.

The woman looked more annoyed than anything. Her skin wasn't pale at all, not like his. It was a rich golden brown, and her eyes were the palest, brightest blue I'd ever seen. Her hair was covered by the hood of her black cloak, but a few rogue, shadowed curls fell over her forehead as she glowered at me and wound her arm back, slamming the sack of rocks into my shoulder.

“He's my brother!" she spat, winding up to hit me again.

Zeke huffed a breath, straining as he tried to lift his head.

“He doesn't look like your brother," I said stupidly.

She glared, gritting her teeth as she reached into her bag and removed a rock. So, I'd been right.

She tossed it at me but missed, and it ricocheted off the tree and hit her in the chin. Her high-pitched screech was enough for me to loosen my grip on Zeke, and he struggled out from underneath me before I could regain my hold on him.

He had me on my back in an instant, his canine teeth snapping down from his gums in two long, pointed fangs. His amber eyes glowed, momentarily possessing me as I looked up at him, unable to tear my eyes away from his face.

“Holy s**t," I said, unable to stop the words from rolling off my tongue.

He furrowed his brow at me as his sister came up beside him, looking down at me with marked disapproval in her eyes.

“What?" Zeke said, likely surprised I hadn't screamed or begged for mercy.

He wasn't a sunken, shriveled gray demon from the depths of hell like what had assaulted me. If he'd been wearing finer clothes, he easily could have been a member of Costas' court.

But the initial shock I'd felt when I looked at his face, and the rich ebony hair, made me realize what had actually caught me by surprise.

“You look like Kiern," I stammered, and he immediately let me go.

The woman opened her mouth in a perfect O shape, her eyes flicking to her brother's face as the male vampire took a staggering step backward.

“How do you know the Queen of Brune?" the woman asked, her voice a symphony of sound.

I looked her up and down. She wasn't a shifter. I would have been able to smell that on her. But she wasn't a vampire, either. At least, not totally. She had a familiar look about her, but her features were striking and abnormal. She had a power about her I couldn't explain, something that caused me to want to cower and flinch away from her gaze, but I held it nonetheless.

“I was just in Brune."


“What were you doing in Brune?" she asked, a hint of fire in her voice. She looked defensive, and I was sure I saw a look of fear in her eyes.

Zeke ran his tongue along his lower lip, arching a brow as he waited for my response.

“It's a long story," I answered, moving slowly into a seated position, leaning against the tree. The empty blackness of the night around us was fading into a rich, purple twilight, and I noticed the vampire flick his eyes to the sky, his expression tightening.

“What happened in Brune?" he asked, lowering his gaze to my tattered clothing and bite marks coating my exposed skin.

“Nothing. They're fine, at least they were when I left a day ago–a little over a day–"

“What are you?" the woman asked, taking a step forward.

Zeke stopped her from advancing any further toward me with his arm. She sniffed, scrunching her nose.

“What? Do I smell?" I teased, which neither of them appreciated. “I'm a wolf."

“There are no wolves here," she said.

“I can prove it to you," I offered.

It wasn't like my clothes could rip any further without falling off completely, anyway.

Zeke growled, low in his throat.

“What are you doing here?" the woman asked. “Why were you in Brune?"

“So many questions, and I don't even know your name," I countered, crossing my arms over my chest.

She stiffened, chewing her lower lip as she glanced at Zeke, who shook his head.

“Ianthe," she whispered, the name barely audible. I c****d my brow. “IANTHE."

“Eye-what?"

“Eye-an-thee!" she snapped, exaggerating every sound. “Now tell us what you're doing out here barely clothed and covered in bite marks."

“I was attacked by vampires, obviously. And I'm looking for the Vampire King, King Nikolas. He has my mate, and I need to get her back. Do you know the way to the castle?"

Zeke and Ianthe looked at each other. Ianthe's voice cracked into a laugh, and she threw her head back, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

“You're not serious–"

“I am." I reached to the velvet sack of bloodstone on my belt and emptied the contents into my palm. “If you show me the way, I'll give you these."

“Where did you get those?" Zeke asked sharply, his upper lip curling into a sneer.

“King Costas of Brune," I said, closing my hands around the bloodstones. I had no idea of their worth, but it was all I had to offer them. “Please. All I need is–"

“Why did he give you these?" Zeke's tone was harsh with a bitter edge.

I furrowed my brow as I looked over his face, trying to make sense of the anger flaming behind his eyes. Ianthe cleared her throat, nudging the vampire with her elbow as she glanced up at the sky.

“We don't have time for this conversation. It's nearly daylight, Zeke. We need to find you shelter."

Zeke's eyes remained on mine for a moment before he let out his breath and ground his teeth, then nodded, turning his gaze to Ianthe. “There are caves nearby."

“Wait!" I said, rising to my feet. “Please, how do I get to the castle?"

Ianthe looked me up and down, taking in my tattered clothing and overall disheveled appearance before glancing at her brother, who had tucked his long hair behind his ears and was putting on his hood.

“I have some food, but not much. We will talk while he sleeps–"

“No," Zeke said firmly, but based on the look Ianthe gave him, she was the one in charge. Zeke surrendered, rolling his eyes toward me and baring his teeth with a hiss before he started forward, disappearing over the edge of the bluff.

“What's his problem?"

“Just so you know," Ianthe said sharply as she walked forward, looking at me over her shoulder, “I am perfectly capable of defending myself and my honor. If you so much as touch me, I'll kill you without hesitation."

“I just need to know how to find the Vampire King," I said as I raised my hands in surrender. “You could tell me now, and I'll be on my way."

“You'll never find it in your current state. Come, I have a few hours to explain."

She stepped down over the edge of the bluff, skillfully maneuvering down the rocks that led into the narrow valley. Zeke was far below us, and as I followed Ianthe downwards, he disappeared in a shadowed crack in the black granite.

***

Ianthe laid out a small spread of stale bread and a few pieces of jerky. I couldn't name the meat. It didn't taste like anything I'd ever eaten. I swallowed it down nonetheless.

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