Lycan King

Lycan ears heard you rise. I trust you slept well?'

'I did. Thank you.'

She stared at the dresses Lena carried to the bed and frowned. 'What are these?' she asked slowly, walking towards the bed. She picked up a royal blue gown with silver lace trim.

Lena smiled. 'The king asked me to bring them to you.'

Eve hid her own smile. She hadn't worn a dress in over three hundred years. 'Thank the king for his kindness, but I have no use for them.'

'Milady?'

'I said please take them back.'

'His Royal Highness said your clothes were wet.'

She looked down at herself. 'As you can see, they're dry now.'

'Is there anything I can get you?' Lena asked, looking a bit confused.

A familiar stab speared Eve's gut and she froze. Oh God, not now. She gritted her teeth as her gaze dipped to Lena's neck. Eve could smell the blood pulsing through the young girl's veins. 'No. Nothing,' she managed to say. Please…please just leave, she thought. It wouldn't look good if she went from saving a life in the afternoon to taking a life in the evening. She gritted her teeth, summoning all her strength to ignore the sweet, tantalizing scent of Lena's blood.

'As you wish, milady,' the young lady said and left.

As soon as the maid shut the door behind her, Eve gasped for breath and clutched her stomach. She could put off her feeding for an hour.

There was something she had to do first.

Drawing the drapes aside, she pushed the window open and lifted herself over the ledge. She stood on the large windowsill and stared down at the courtyard. Thankfully, she didn't see anyone below and promptly flung herself from the ledge, sailing through the air until she landed on her feet below. Her stomach churned with hunger, but she ignored it. She still had time.

She ran to the well. Quickly, she drew her dagger from her belt and pushed back the hem of her sleeve. With one deft move, she slit her wrist and stretched her hand over the well. She watched her blood spill and when she was satisfied there was enough of it in the water, she drew back her hand and watched her cut heal and disappear.

She heard a growl behind her and spun around. A dark haired woman dressed in a pale green gown stood behind her, her expression unpleasant as she ran a derisive glance over her. The hair at the back of Eve's neck rose.

'You must be the new guest at the castle everyone is talking about. The one who saved Becca,' the stranger said coldly, glancing down at Eve's wrist. 'What are you doing?'

'Nothing that should concern you.' Eve did not like the woman.

The woman's face hardened. 'You're poisoning our well with your vampire blood, aren't you?'

Eve narrowed her eyes. 'It's not what you think. I'm not trying to hurt anyone. I suggest you leave and forget you saw me here.'

The woman's eyes shifted to amber and Eve clenched her fists. So she was a Lycan. If it was a battle she wanted, she was going to get it.

'I'm sure Drago will be interested to know what you've done.'

Drago? Did all the villagers address the king in such a familiar manner? She stared at the woman and realised she had to follow her. The last thing she wanted was Drago thinking she was trying to kill his people.

Pursing her lips, she followed the woman back into the castle.

* * * *

Drago's body went cold and he gripped the armrests of his throne. Nolan was talking to him, but he couldn't hear a word. It was Eve. He…he felt her. His heart thudded against his chest as he waved a dismissive hand at Nolan and staggered to his feet.

'Your Highness, are you all right?' Nolan asked.

Drago wasn't so sure. He was stunned at the powerful connection he was experiencing with Eve.

'Your Highness?' Nolan asked.

'It's nothing,' Drago growled. 'Leave me be.'

He sensed her approaching the Great Hall and his gut jolted violently. He stared at the door, his heart racing like a thoroughbred in his chest.

He tensed his mouth as he stepped down from his throne's dais and stood with legs apart, hands clenched at his sides.

She entered slowly behind Gretchen and her wariness ran across the room and hit him. She was nervous. Grim-faced, he strode to her and stared down at her beautiful face. Up close, she didn't look as wary as he thought. She looked uncertain, almost frightened. The thought didn't make sense to him. Frightened was a word he would never use to describe her. His gaze ran over her tight, leather garb and he frowned, wondering why she wasn't wearing one of the gowns he sent her.

'Drago, I caught her at the well slitting her wrist,' Gretchen began. 'She was trying to kill us with her poisonous blood.'

The room grew silent and all eyes turned on them. Drago kept his gaze fastened on Eve. 'Thank you. That is