Chapter 15
Lucas glares at me. “What is that supposed to mean?”
I groan in frustration, and pull his engagement ring from my pocket. “This will never sit on my finger Lucas. I would rather die than be bound to you for the rest of my life.” It fell from my fingers, clinking pitifully on the marble steps.
“But you’re my mate! We have a bond, you belong to me, you are tied to me–”
“Yes! Lucas!” I shout, the hurt and anger I have felt since my rebirth bubbling over into my words. “I am supposed to be your mate, and you are supposed to be tied to me, too! But I refuse to be treated like a pawn instead of your partner.”
I know what I have to do. I call on my wolf, but my connection to her is still dark. Even without Willow, I muster every ounce of my energy to call the mate bond into my mind, attacking it with the full force of my consciousness.
It trembles, and splinters, still present, but weaker. It hurts us both, and Lucas stumbles back, his shocked expression etched into his face. “What the hell was that, Ruby?” He hissed, groaning at the psychic pain.
“Proof I don’t want you. I will never want you.”
He leapt up, fury giving him the energy to pounce and pin me to the wall. “You’re going to regret that–”
“And so will you if you touch me. I’m here on the Lycan King’s invitation, hurt me and you’re in violation of his orders.”
Lucas considers me for a moment, his head tilted like he’s still weighing the option of slitting my throat. “On second thought,” he says, releasing me, “I think I might also have some business with my father. What a coincidence we’re heading the same way.”
The rest of the walk to the King’s reception chamber was made in silence, and I made sure to keep a consistent five meters between us. Lucas barely acknowledged me until we arrived in the lobby, where Caleb and a handful of guards were standing.
“What the hell is he doing here?” Caleb sneered, walking up to me and putting a possessive arm over my shoulders.
“Stalking us, it seems.” I whispered back, hiding my mouth from Lucas’s eyes. “He wants something from the King, but I don’t know what. I think–”
“How cute, you two with your little whispery love poems, but there are other people in the room.” Lucas crossed his arms over his chest.
Caleb laughed in his face and snapped, “If only you weren’t here, we would be having so much more fun.” He pulled me tighter into his side, and I thought for a moment the pressure would break my ribs. “Now stay away from my fiance.”
The glare between the two of them was boiling hot, and I was surprised neither of them set the other on fire.
The doors to the King’s reception chamber opened, and a stout herald emerged, “The King is ready for you now.”
Caleb and I shared a last look, and walked into the room together. Lucas followed shortly behind us.
The King was sitting on a reclining leather chair, his eyes tired like he hadn’t slept for some time. The bookshelves behind him were neatly stacked, and the room looked more like a university library than a royal hall.
“Father,” Caleb said politely, bowing his head as I paid my respect.
“Father,” Lucas repeated, nudging Caleb out of the way.
They really reverted into bickering children in front of their parent. It took all my self control not to roll my eyes.
“Boys,” he said dismissively, “and Ruby, dear.”
I smiled in response, somewhat shyly. Even though I had met the King before, it was always nervewracking to be in the presence of the most powerful man in werewolf.
“I–” Lucas started.
The King ignored him, and rolled on, “I know you’re here about the marriage issue. And I’ve given it some thought and decided to let you two proceed with the wedding.” He gestured at Caleb and I, “You two, I mean.”
I exhaled in relief, but Lucas instantly exploded. “What?”
“Now I know that’s not what you wanted to hear–”
“That’s absurd is what it is!” Lucas snorted, waving his hands like a petulant child. “You can’t agree to let Caleb do whatever he wants and ruin our carefully laid plans! We have huge public support for a union between Ruby and I, she should be marrying the legal heir to the throne–”
“Legal, you say?” Caleb smirked, his voice cold. “Lycans don’t make a fuss about legitimacy unless they aren’t strong enough to defend theirs. You must not be strong enough Lucas, that’s a shame.”
“This has nothing to do with my strength, it has to do with the political–”
“The political support will follow the strongest werewolf.” Caleb responded, still cool and collected. “So, prove your strength. Fight me.”
“What are you, five?” Lucas snarled.
“I propose we play fair. Best two of three wins, and takes Ruby’s hand. If I lose, I leave the palace and lose my title as Grand Prince. If you lose, you can either be disinherited or run 100 laps of the most famous river in the kingdom naked with the press live-streaming the whole thing.”
Lucas’s face contorted in anger, “You’re insane.”
“But, I have a point.” Caleb retorted, “Playing along is your best chance for a clean win, because under any other rules I won’t stop fighting you until this woman is mine and you’ve taken your paws off the kingdom.”
“Fine then,” Lucas said, “The Alpha Ball, that will be the first competition. Whoever gets the most votes from the attendees wins the first game.”
The King nodded his assent to the arrangement, and had his attendant usher us all out of the room.
I looked up in Caleb’s face, wavering slightly as he weighed his options. The Alpha Ball was no small matter, it was hosted every year, and the two brothers had always alternated who was in charge of organizing the event. There would be countless werewolf, Lycan Alpha, and even Alphas from the bear kingdom.
In years past, there were always speeches, political canvassing, voting and dealmaking in addition to the music and food. Before my rebirth, I had attended the final Alpha Ball before Lucas took power, and I remembered every detail of his treachery.
Even though Caleb had made a brilliant show to convince the werewolf that he should ascend to the throne, Lucas had poisoned the food and caused the Alphas from both the Lycan Kingdom and the Bear kingdom to become violently sick. Everyone blamed Caleb, who had been the organizing head that year, and completely overlooked the good, hard work he had invested into the ball.
I couldn’t help but smile, knowing my memories held the key to pushing Caleb over the edge and succeeding over Lucas.
Whatever reservations Caleb had about whether or not he could do this, he had me, and there was no way I was going to let him lose against his brother.
