Lycan King

Drago released three successive barks and snarled. Something wasn't right. Baring his jaws, he sprung towards a cluster of boulders in a clearing. Without stopping, he vaulted over a huge boulder and landed on his paws on the other side.

Three Lycans had Eve surrounded, their armour's crest decorated with a bold B. Balkathan's men! The biggest one had a wooden stake pointed on her chest.

Drago went insane with rage and lunged forward, his jaw clamping down on the Lycan's hand. The Lycan growled and dropped the stake as Eve sprung towards the other Lycan closest to her.

She used her vampire speed and caught him by surprise as she drove her silver dagger in his chest. The other Lycan sprung towards her and she fought him as Drago shifted to his Lycan form and faced his adversary.

Glancing back sharply to Eve, he was relieved to see her holding her ground as she sailed over the Lycan's head and landed behind him. He turned sharply to his opponent.

'What are you doing in this territory?' he asked. 'Aren't you a little far from your dark lord's lair?'

'We are everywhere, fool,' the Lycan snarled. 'Balkathan has been keeping a close eye on your castle for years. Soon, the castle will be his and your people will bow down to him.'

He lunged forward and Drago growled, sidestepping as he pushed the Lycan onto a boulder. Balkathan's werewolf smashed his head against the rock and Drago sprung forward, wanting to finish him while he was still dazed. He grabbed the silver dagger from the Lycan's belt and raised it above his shoulder when he heard Eve grunt.

Panicked, he twisted his head and watched her being hurled to the ground. 'Eve!'

She snapped her gaze to his and the Lycan lunged forward with his stake, burying it deep in her chest. She screamed, clutching the stake and fell back.

Drago felt his heart stop. Without another thought, he turned to his opponent and stabbed him with his dagger. Eve's Lycan vaulted towards Drago, his hand upraised with a silver dagger, and growled ferociously.

Drago went cold with rage and stopped the Lycan's hand in midair, dragging his hand down into the demon's own chest. The Lycan slumped dead to the ground.

Fear pulsed through his frame as he collapsed on the ground beside Eve. Her eyes were closed, her face still and he grabbed the stake. Tears blurred his vision as he pulled the stake from her chest, raising his face to the heavens, roaring with anguish.

He lifted her in his arms and crushed her against him, burying his face in her neck. 'Eve, no! Please don't go. I love you. I…love you,' he said hoarsely.

He didn't know how long he held her, but at the first streak of sun lighting the horizon, he knew he had to return to the castle.

He lifted her gently and carried her as he walked through the forest and into the fields. He couldn't feel his heart. It was dead. Like his beautiful Eve.

After carrying her for a long while, he looked ahead and saw twenty horses thundering towards him, his son leading the pack.

Vasilis vaulted off his white steed and strode to him, his face dark with anger. 'Father, a king does not leave his castle without a caravan of guards to follow the spawn of Balkathan. Have you lost your mind?'

Drago was numb with grief. 'Would you not risk your life for your one?'

Vasilis's face dropped as he looked from his father to Eve and then back to his father. 'Father?' he asked, frowning. His gaze rested on Eve's still face.

'Aye, my son. She is my one.' Drago's voice broke and he took a moment to regain control. 'My one is dead.'

* * * *

'The master is distraught. He's been in the there all day and refuses to come out to eat or drink.' Hesta rang her hands fearfully. 'I have never seen him like this. Not even when the late queen took her life.'

Lena placed her arm around the healer's frail shoulder. 'Our king is strong, Hesta. He needs this time to grieve privately.'

Hesta didn't look convinced and for a split second, Lena doubted her own words. 'I don't know about that, child. He may be strong, but when a Lycan loses their one, their life is shattered. He worries me. It's already well into the night and he hasn't eaten a thing. I've been outside this door all day and night and I've heard him talking to Eve. He speaks to her as though he expects her to respond.'

'Poor Master.'

'Even Vasilis and Alexandra have tried all day to make him stop this madness, but he ordered them to leave him be.'

'What are we to do?'

'Go to Katya. Console her. The poor girl has just lost her mother and she is beside herself with grief.'

'And you? What are you to do?'

Hesta's eyes shone with tears. 'I will stay here and wait for him to come out.'

* * * *

Drago drew in a ragged breath, staring at his beloved. Her face was still and pale, her lips pink. He lowered his head and kissed her softly. She was cold.

He knew he had to let her go, but he wasn't ready. If he let her go now, he would never look upon her lovely face again. His felt his heart crack.