Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Prey Of The Lycan Queen Chapter 10

~Zirah~

Yet there is something eerie about this man, wisdom beyond the age he looks. He had an uncannyresemblance to his brothers Malachi and Theron, yet he seems calmer, more levelheaded. His eyestrack me as I move toward him, like a cat hunting a mouse, his movements graceful, otherworldly."They're right, you know?" the vampire man states casually. He tosses a billiard ball back onto thebroken table.

"You forgave Regan," he continues.

"I marked him. That doesn’t mean I forgive him," I tell him and Regan drops his head. James shrugs,stepping closer until he stands before me. I glance at my wolves, yet they don't seem fazed by thisman's presence.

"Same thing. Yet what if I told you one of them had already earned a place beside you? Maybe bothhave, yet I know for sure one never did," he tells me, his eyes cutting to Regan. Regan growls andsteps forward, yet I put my hand on his chest. This man, as odd as he is, there is something knowingabout him and I suddenly want to know what he means.

However, he glances over my shoulder when he hears movement behind me. "Finish the maze trials.Maybe not all of them are dead ends like you think," he says cryptically.

"You want me to forgive them, let them live when they've done nothing to earn their lives?"

"Well, that is debatable. But how do you expect them to prove it, if you've condemned themalready?" he asks in return.

I glance at Regan, yet his jaw is tight, and he is glaring daggers at his uncle. "Maybe you were tooquick to forgive this one without really getting to know your other choices, Zirah."

"Choices? I am the choice. They chose wrong,"

"Maybe so, but so did your mother. She didn't just curse the Lycan Kings. She cursed all the Lycans.Now what do you think will happen when the entire Lycan population replaces out a female Lycanexists? What do you think your kingdom's enemies will do? ... They'll come for you and you know it.You don't have to like them or even forgive them, but it's better to have allies on your side than toknow only enemies. Somehow, I believe you'll replace they want the same thing."

"I want revenge; I highly doubt they want the same,” I tell him, about to move past him when hegrabs my arm.

"Who said they didn't?" he whispers

"My brother wasn't the best father. He has played his sons against each other from the momentthey existed. How do you expect them to act differently when that is all they've ever known?" hetells me. I look at him, his blood-red eyes peering back at me.

"Finish the maze trial, this marriage agreement, then decide. If you decide they deserve death, I willkill them myself," he tells me, and I am taken aback by his words.

"You would kill your own nephews?"

"Ah, see, Zirah. You don't live as long as I have by playing on the losing side. Instead, you choosethe winner, and if that means ending Theron's reign and standing at your side, then I will do it.Everyone has an agenda. Use it to your advantage. You may not want them, but one day you mayneed them,” he tells me. I think about his words and what it truly means to be the last female Lycan,when I suddenly think of Regan’s mother. How it haunts Regan, that after Litha, my mother--- Adira,was the last female Lycan, so what became of her, and how does that affect me?

The thought of the most probable way in which her life ended creeps up my spine. Could the Lycanmen have been so depraved and desperate to defile their queen in such a disgustingly brutalmanner? Would the same happen to me? Being the only source to restore the Lycan population. Idismiss the notion immediately.

I have something Regan’s mother did not possess: magic. Not only that, but I am the most powerfulwitch in existence. And anyone who crosses me will learn exactly how powerful that is.

"I'll think about it,” I tell him, walking off.

"Don't think too long, Zirah. Last I heard, we are about to wage war with the Vampiric Kingdom.Without them, you'd be going to war already losing," James tells me, and I stop.

"Pardon?" I ask, turning around.

"Here I was thinking you were smart. The attack, the one where Zeke, Lyon, and Regan killed thevamps to save you, when you crossed that border when you ran?"

The night I was nearly gang-raped by those blood-sucking leeches. "What about it?" I ask.

"One of them was the vampire king's son.” I glance at Zeke, Lyon, and Regan. None of them meetmy gaze, yet that in itself tells me James is telling the truth.

"War is imminent; I plan on being on the winning side. So do me a favor and win... But you won't ifyour kings are dead or fighting among themselves,” he tells me.

"Do you think it is so easy to forgive them?" I question, wondering how he could expect such athing.

"Forgiveness is never for the betrayer, Zirah. It's for the betrayed. It's the only way you'll replace peace.You can hate them, despise them, and want vengeance, but then what?".

"Yes, forgive them when they deserve it. But that isn't the only reason you should forgive them. Youhave the power to be the most powerful high priestess since your ancestors, since your mother. Butlook how it ended for them all. Don't be your ancestors' Karma Zirah."

"Their Karma? The only one being served their Karma is the king!" I snarl.

"If that is so, why were you cursed along with them?" he asks. My brows pinch, and he gives me aknowing look, one I can't decipher. He then turns on his heels and wanders off.

"Who did you say your uncle was again?" I ask Regan

"Weird is what he is," Zeke says, coming up behind me.