Lycan King

'She is being well taken care of. Hesta is the best healer in the land.'

'Perhaps for human ailments--coughs, colds, aches. My daughter needs a powerful cure.' Her expression hardened. 'If you don't mind, I will see her now and we'll be on our way.'

His patience snapped. 'You cannot take her away. She has information we need. Besides, Balkathan will make attempts on her life and the only safe place for her is here in my castle.'

Her expression went cold. 'Do you really think your paltry band of Lycan guards can protect her from Balkathan's fleet of monsters?'

He clenched his fists at his sides. She knew what they were! He growled, narrowing his gaze on her and took a threatening step towards her. Irritated, he noted she did not retreat, but stood her ground, glaring up at him. Was this woman fearless, or was she as mad as her daughter? Mad, he decided because no one dared challenge him.

'How do you know of us?' he growled. 'It is a secret we have guarded for two hundred years. You are not a Lycan. If you were, I would sense you.'

'There are other immortals, Your Highness, immortals with powers more formidable than your strength and speed.'

He grimaced, running his gaze over her face. There was only one other immortal race. No! She couldn't be. He detested her kind. It was a reviled race who drank the blood of innocents. A race ruled by the devil. They didn't look like her. She had the face of an angel.

'You are a vampire,' he said hoarsely. He cursed his attraction to her, realising with disgust, the heat in his loins was still present. Apparently, knowing what she was hadn't lessened his lust for her.

'Yes, I am a vampire,' she said. 'And you are a Lycan. We're both monsters, so you can wipe that repulsive look from your face.'

'Insolent woman!' His blood rushed to his face as he fought his inner beast roaring for escape. 'Vampires are vile creatures who drink human blood for survival. You will leave this place at once. I will not have you harm my people to quench your bloody thirst.'

His body went still as her cold expression slowly disappeared. He frowned, detecting a bleak and despairing look cloud her eyes. Her gaze wavered and he watched her lower lip quiver. An air of vulnerability surrounded her and he felt a sudden jab of discomfort. Had he hurt her feelings? An involuntary rush of guilt ran through his frame, giving him pause.

Grimacing, he snapped out of it. She was one of the undead, with no heart, no soul and Lycans were not supposed to feel sorry for Vampires.

* * * *

Eve swallowed hard and tried to stop her insecurities from surfacing. She didn't need the king to tell her she was a vile creature. She already knew that and had lived with the self-loathing for four hundred years.

Even feeding off animals enough to sustain her life and leaving them unharmed didn't change how she felt about herself.

'I only want my daughter. Have no fear for your people's safety.'

His dark gaze narrowed. 'How do I know that? Vampires have no control over their thirst and they feed on anyone, including infants and children.'

'You'll have to trust me.'

'Trust a vampire? I think not.'

Eve stiffened. 'My only goal coming here is to take Katya away. My vampire blood has a healing effect. One drop will cure her madness. So, if you don't mind, I would like to see her now.'

'How do I know anything you've told me is the truth? What if you're an assassin sent by Balkathan to kill Katya? He wants her dead because she knows where he hides his lair.' He ran an insolent, dark gaze over her. 'You don't even look old enough to have a full grown daughter.'

Angry and frustrated, Eve had had enough and she snapped!

* * * *

She moved so fast, all he saw was a blur. She sprung towards him and pulled his silver dagger from his waist, drawing it up to his neck. She bared her fangs and hissed up at his face, her eyes glowing red. 'Proof enough I mean you no harm? If I did, you and your two guards behind me would already be dead. Now show me to my daughter!'

Drago raised a sharp hand to his guards. They were shifting, preparing to attack her and he growled at them to stop. 'At ease!'

They grunted their response, reverting to their human form and Drago glared down at the undead beauty. 'Your arrogance is astounding, wench. Men have been killed for lesser attempts on my life.'

She tucked her incisors away and calmly handed him his dagger. 'As I said, I mean you no harm.' She took a step back and drew in a slow breath, releasing it as though all her energies were spent. 'Please. I'm growing weary of this cat and mouse. I get it. You hate me because I'm a vampire.' Her gaze flickered as though momentarily disturbed by some internal thought.

Drago's anger slowly evaporated as he watched her expression change. Was that sadness he detected?

'Well, I hate me, too,' she said woodenly, 'so let's move past this to a more important issue--my daughter. I can help her remember where Balkathan's lair is.'

'How?' he asked. Curiously, he was more interested by what she'd said about hating herself. Hadn't he hated himself two hundred years ago when his castle had been attacked by Balkathan's army and he'd been turned?

'I can go into her thoughts. Vampires read minds and I can find her memories buried beneath her madness,' she said quietly. 'Please. Do we have a truce? We both want the same thing, the wellbeing of my daughter. I want to take her away with me and you want to know where Balkathan's lair is.'