The First King
Chapter 29

Alder leaned against a tree that stood near the center of his encampment. It had been some time since he had been informed of Prew coming onto his territory. And to make things better, Konrad was not with her. As his hand ran through his beard, he wondered if she was still untouched. After Konrad's weak mate rejected him, would he have then crawled to Prew? Or would she just push him away? A chuckle rumbled through Alder's chest at the thought of the human refusing her mutt of a husband.

He perked up as several of his guards howled in the distance, an indication that she was close. But Alder would not go running up to her, like a dog excited to see its master. No. He crossed his arms and rested his head against the tree behind him. To everyone else, it looked as if he was disinterested in the guest that was coming into his camp. But internally, his stomach clenched up at the sight of Prew. It had been around two weeks since Alder last saw her, but he had forgotten how radiant she looked. The sun shined off of her black hair that flowed in the wind. She wore a dark brown leather coat with white fur around the neck and shoulders. As Prew neared him, he noticed a rabbit's foot dangling from a clip on her waist.

"My Queen of Queens," Alder greeted as he nodded his head to her. "I'm surprised to see you so soon."

"Well, this isn't a social visit," Prew answered as she slid off of her horse and landed on the ground. "I need your warriors."

"No 'how are you' first?" He teased with a smirk.

"There is no time for that," she scowled as she looked up at him. "We have vampires to kill."

"Alright," Alder shrugged. "I'll gather my best wolves and send them with you."

"Good, but I'd like for you to join me."

"Oh?" He questioned as a smile stretched across his face. Alder took a step closer, deeply inhaling the air around her. His eyes rolled into the back of his head at her scent. "And why do you want me to go? Do you need something from me that your husband has not given you? I know he refuses to touch you, to lay with you. But that's his loss."

Prew kept her face blank, fighting back the disgust she felt at his words. If it weren't for the fact that he was an excellent fighter, she would leave him behind. But she could not let him get away with talking to her in such a manner. Prew bit her lip as she nodded her head. Her right hand went behind her back, grabbing the dagger that was tucked away between her back and her quiver. As she looked up at Alder, noticing at his smirk, she frowned. Her arm swung around, pressing the dagger against his throat. Prew pushed on his chest, backing him up until his back slammed into the tree.

"Let me make one thing clear to you, Alder," she hissed between gritted teeth. "You will not talk to me about my husband if it isn't war-related. If it involves the bedroom or my own personal body, you shall keep your mouth shut. And I better not catch you sniffing me like that again. If you ever disrespect me, no matter how small the remark, I will kill you, and I will take control of your pack. Do you understand me?"

"I understand," he muttered as he looked at her wide-eyed. Prew glared at him, pressing the silver dagger into his skin. Alder could feel blood trickling down his neck as she pressed further into him. "I understand, Your Majesty."

"Good," Prew replied as she withdrew the dagger. She wiped the blade against the sleeve of his shirt before replacing it. "Get packed. You're still going. We leave in 10 minutes."

Alder grumbled as one of his hands went up, feeling the wound that she created. It wouldn't take long for it to heal, but that didn't bother him. Her sudden anger and the force she exerted to push him backward surprised him. Alder usually prided himself on being quick on his feet, but here was Prew, a human, dominating him. Though she warned him and threatened his life, it did not diminish the yearning that he had for her. If anything, it intensified it. That woman, that human, was worthy enough to be his mate, the mother of his children. Konrad was the only thing that stood between him and the girl. Although Alder would never do anything to go against Prew, it did not stop him from thinking of Konrad falling in battle. And he would be there to help the Queen of Queens pick up the pieces.

At the end of the ten minutes, Prew was back on top of Meeka, leading a group of nearly 40 warriors to the East. About three hours away, in a low valley, sat Prew's army. As Alder ran in his wolf form, he could see the scattered tents and smoke from the fires. But this did not look like a sizable camp. In fact, it looked no bigger than his own back at his pack.

Alder glanced up, briefly looking at Prew as she rode on Meeka. He wondered what she was doing and what her plans were. Her army sat at the foot of the Black Shadow Keep. Alder did not need to be a mind reader to know that she intended to attack the vampires, but it looked like she brought only fifty men to fight. Add in his warriors, and it was still less than 100. As they entered the camp, most of whom he smelled were witches and wolves.

"Is this it?" He questioned her after he shifted into his human form. Prew didn't answer as she slid from her horse. Alder was furious as he watched her walk away without speaking. He stormed after her, following her into a tent where a few others sat around a table. "You can't tell me that this is all that you brought with you to fight!"

"Who is this loud brute?" Sofia questioned as she looked at the large man who had walked in behind Prew.

"This is Alder, Alpha of the Frostpaws," Prew stated as she took a seat. Next to her was an empty chair, and she motioned with her head for Alder to sit. When he didn't move, she glared up at him. "Alder, I have little patience with you at this moment, and I have even less time. If you will sit, I will go over our plans."

Alder grumbled as he sat in the chair, avoiding the gazes of the others at the table. He crossed his arms, causing him to look like a sulking child.

"Good," Prew scowled as she turned to a map on the table. "Now, you've asked me if this was all the soldiers that I've brought, and the answer is no. What you've seen is only a quarter of the men that I've brought. I want it to seem as if we have a smaller army than what we actually have."

"So, where are the others then?" Alder inquired as he uncrossed his arms. His eyes looked to Prew curiously as she leaned forward, pointing out red markers that were dotted around the vampire keep on the map. But then, he furrowed his brows as he studied the paper. He had to go by two of the dots, but he had not seen any men hiding out.

"I've split all of the humans up into groups that are scattered around. Every corner of the keep has eyes on it. And by that look on your face, you didn't see the two groups we passed, did you?"

"I didn't smell any humans in those woods," he argued as he glanced at her. "Where were they?"

"In the trees, covered with mud," Rowan answered with a smirk.

"Guilford has done this in the past to mask our human scent when we go to fight against vampires," Prew explained. "And it works against wolves, too, as you've so kindly demonstrated."

"That's… rather clever," Alder remarked as he did his best to hide a smile.

"I'm either that or downright mad," Prew replied as she looked down at her hands. She could feel her cheeks heat up as a blush went across her face. But then she quickly shook it away as someone ran into the tent.

"It is time," the man gasped as he tried to catch his breath. Everyone but Alder quickly stood from the table.

"Come on," Prew instructed of him as she looked down at him.

"What are we doing?" He questioned as he stood hesitantly.

"The sun is past the halfway point, which means the vampire keep is fully illuminated," Prew explained as she walked out of the tent. She grabbed her quiver and quickly slung it over her shoulder.

"And where do you want me and my men?"

"I want you flanking my right," she answered. "Your warriors are to rush in before us, clearing the way. But, Alder, you make sure they know that no one is to be harmed if they surrender. Do I make myself clear?"

"Even the vampires?" He questioned with a frown.

"Yes, even the vampires."

Alder grumbled as he followed Prew through the camp. He mind linked to his wolves, and though there were many protests about sparing surrendering vampires, they were compelled to obey. As Prew hurried forward, yelling out orders to everyone, Alder shifted into his wolf. While he flanked her right side, Rowan was to her left.

At first, Prew led the way, but after they cleared the tree line in front of the keep, Alder's warriors sprinted forward. Standing out front, protecting the large wooden doors, were humans. Some of them looked emaciated as they held their rusty weapons. Prew swallowed a lump in her throat as several wolves lunged at the humans, killing them before they could even attack. She knew that most, if not all, of these humans were there against their wills. They did not choose to be blood bags to the vampires.

With a deep exhale, her body shuddered. In previous skirmishes, she fought against men who were actively trying to kill her, but this felt different. Watching the humans die to the wolves felt wrong, but she would not be able to stop it. The humans would need to surrender, and no one even attempted to do so. Once no one was left alive, the wolves rushed into the keep, but Prew remained frozen in her spot. Alder looked up at her, waiting for her to rush in, and yet, she stayed there, staring at the bodies.

After a moment, Rowan's wolf nudged Prew's left hand. She looked down at him, and at that moment, Prew wished she had the ability to mind link. She wanted to talk to him, to relay her moral concerns about their attack, but she did not want to do that where others would hear. It would make her appear weak, something she could not afford. After one more deep exhale, Prew hurried into the keep. She had an arrow nocked, ready to let loose at any moment, but to her surprise, everything seemed quiet.

Prew walked through the stone halls, her eyes searching and her ears listening. A few female humans knelt down on the ground, surrendering to her, and other than the wolves looking for vampires, no one else was there. After a few minutes, she looked down at Rowan.

"You and another wolf go around to human groups," she instructed as she lowered her bow. "Inquire if they have seen vampires or anyone running from the keep."

The wolf nodded his head with a huff and hurried off. Alder shifted into his human form. As he looked around, he seemed just as confused as Prew.

"There is no vampire here," he stated as he furrowed his brows. "Why?"

"They must have left before we arrived," Prew scowled as she kicked a wall. "We were too late."

"If we hurry, we can be at the Twin Mountains in a few days."

"Would you be opposed to sending your fastest wolves to the Wildfang pack?" She inquired. "Callum can start to surround that keep before we ever get there. That way, should any vampires still be in there, we can actually prevent them from getting to Thresnora."

"I can do that," Alder nodded as his head suddenly snapped to the side. His eyes glazed over as he mind linked with someone. Once his eyes returned to normal, he glanced at Prew. "Follow me. One of my wolves found a witch hidden in the keep."

Prew looked at Alder curiously, but she followed him without hesitation. She had expected to come across humans, and supposedly vampires, but for there to be a witch hidden here, it surprised her. But, at the same time, the hand that held the bow tightened its grip. This could be one of the witches that had attacked her pack, attacked her people. If she could not prevent vampires from getting to Thresnora, then she would, at the very least, avenge the four wolves who died as a result of the witches. And though she told Alder they were to spare anyone who surrendered, the rule did not apply to witches. She would kill whomever they were. As Prew and Alder turned a corner, they ran into Sofia, who was heading in the same direction.

The three of them entered a room filled with barrels and bottles that looked like wine. But Prew instantly gagged at the smell; there was a strong iron scent that filled the air. Sofia, too, was taken back by the stench of the room.

"This is where they store blood and infuse it with wine," a voice said from above.

Prew pulled the string of her bow back as she pointed the arrow upwards. High up, hidden in the rafters, was a woman. The woman was wearing all-black clothes, resembling those worn by the dark witches. Prew pulled back further, preparing to shoot off her arrow, when Sofia reached out, gripping the bow.

"Don't shoot!" Sofia commanded as she glared at Prew.

"That is a witch!" Prew yelled as she gritted her teeth. "She could have been one of the witches who attacked my pack!"

"But she wasn't," Sofia replied firmly. "I know who she is and that woman is not from Thresnora. She isn't even blessed by Nyx."

"Then who is she?" Prew demanded as she kept her arrow firmly pointed at the witch.

"My name is Tressa, and I belong to the Earthen Circle," the woman explained.

"And I can assure you she is far from a threat," Sofia interjected as her voice grew soft. "Please, don't hurt her."

"How can you say she isn't a threat when she is in a vampire keep?!" Alder growled as he pointed at the witch above them.

"Oh… Well…” Sofia stuttered as she thought to herself. She looked up, curious by Alder's question. "Why are you here, Tressa? I thought you were in hiding."

"I am hiding," Tressa proclaimed with a wide smile.

"How long have you been here? And why here? Why amongst vampires when they are searching for you?" Sofia questioned. "Last I heard, you were hiding near the Sacred Witches."

"I left that area about two years ago," Tressa shrugged as she reached beside her, grabbing a stale, crusty piece of bread. She bit into it, filling the air with the sound of her crunching. "I spent some time near the Quiet Valley, and then in the sequoia forest, and while on my way to Lucent depths, I noticed the Black Shadow Keep. And, I thought to myself, why not? So, I snuck inside, eventually found my way to this room, and decided to hang out in the rafters. The scent of the blood hides my existence for the most part."

"Why are you hiding?" Prew inquired as she finally lowered the bow.

"The vampires and the Coven of Stardust are looking for her," Sofia sighed.

"They call me one of the nine," Tressa interjected. "They killed my twin, and for whatever reason, his death did not give them the results that they wanted. So now, they want me."

"One of the nine? What does that mean?" Prew questioned.

"It means I am blessed by one of the nine Gods of this realm. What they want to do with me, other than kill me, I don't know," Tressa shrugged as she continued to gnaw on the bread. "To be honest, I have not heard much about it. Other than recently, they apparently found one of the nine and had her here at this keep. From what I can gather, Vihaan brought in a she-wolf, and by morning, Evie and Thayer were here for her."

"Evie and Thayer were here?" Sofia questioned as her eyes went wide.

"Yeah, but they don't know I am here."

"If vampires and witches are looking for you, why hide here amongst them?" Alder asked, unaware of Evie and Thayer's importance.

"If you were looking for someone, would you look for them in your own home?" Tressa countered.

As Alder continued to question the witch, Prew looked at Sofia. Her face had turned white, and her body began to tremble. Something scared the witch beside her, something about the two people they had mentioned: Evie and Thayer. These names were unfamiliar to Prew, but whoever they were, they held the power of fear over Sofia.

"What do you mean you have a bucket full of excrement up there?!" Alder yelled, causing both Prew and Sofia to flinch. "That is disgusting! Even by my standards!"

"Enough, Alder," Prew scowled as she rubbed her ear.

"Look, you two can't smell it, but it reeks to high heaven in here," Alder argued as he threw up his arms. "Consider yourselves lucky you aren't wolves."

"If it stinks too much, go wait outside. While you're at it, make sure your wolves are on their way to the Wildfang pack," Prew instructed as she glared at the Alpha. Alder rolled his eyes and left the room with a huff. Once he was gone, she looked back up to Tressa. "Do you know when the vampires left?"

"Maybe two days ago. Like I said, it is hard to tell time in a windowless room."

"Why don't you come with us," Sofia suggested. "I can keep you safe."

"You can keep me safe by killing the dark witches," Tressa retorted as she frowned.

"Come with us, and you can kill them yourself," Prew stated as she crossed her arms. "Don't you want to get revenge for your twin?"

"I'd give up anything to avenge Trey, but I can't."

"She is a witch of death," Sofia interrupted softly. "Killing someone goes against everything Labraid stands for."

"A witch of death? What do you mean killing someone goes against the God of Death?"

"I am meant to retrieve the souls of the dead, just as Labraid does," Tressa explained as her expression turned sour. "I could not kill someone even if I tried. So, no, thank you for the invite, but I will stay here. It is safer for me here. I don't want to risk it if I am the last person that they need for whatever it is they are doing."

"Oh," Prew nodded. She turned around, heading for the door, but she briefly stopped to glance up at the witch high above them. "Stay safe, then."

"I'll come get you once the fighting is done," Sofia stated as she looked up at Tressa. "I promise!"

"Bring a change of clothes when you come back!" Tressa called out before Sofia left the room.

As the women stepped outside, Prew grabbed onto Sofia's arm, stopping her. She stared at the witch momentarily, as if she could read her mind just by looking at her eyes.

"Do you truly trust that Tressa hasn't sided with the vampires or dark witches?" She questioned, her tone a bit harsher than she had intended.

"I do," Sofia nodded quickly. "I was there at her welcoming rites. I know that she is odd, but that is Tressa. I'd like to say Trey's death broke her, but she was off before he died. There are not many witches of death, and they tend to keep to themselves because of what they are meant to do. But please, trust me when I say this: Tressa is no threat—not to herself or anyone else."

"Alright," Prew nodded her head as she released Sofia. "Go tell your people that we move now. I don't want to delay getting to the Twin Mountains."

Sofia gave a slight bow of her head before walking away. Prew looked back at the vampire keep. There was so much anger flowing through her. She hated that they were too late, but it wouldn't have mattered. If that witch in the blood room was correct, the vampires left before she departed from Guilford. There wasn't much she could do other than have ravens sent out to warn Kon. It made her anxious to think of him being caught between a mass of vampires and witches. And all she could do now was hope that he would survive until they saw one another again.

Random author question! Who are your favorite characters in the books that I’ve written (This can include “The Blind Witch” and all of the Calliope series)

Mine are:

1. Prew (She has been my favorite female character to write thus far)
2. Alder (He has been my favorite male character to write thus far)
3. Calliope
4. Clarissa
5. Inti (For those that may not remember, he is a God that made an appearance in “The Blind Witch”. He will have a heavy presence in “Unraveling Darkness” and I am sooo excited for it)

Is it controversial that Theo isn’t on this list??