Mated To Rival Kings

CHAPTER TEN

Valen’s POV

Blood.

It was everywhere. It pooled in the grooves of the stone floor, dark and thick. My claws were stained a deep, messy crimson. Why was there so much? The screams... they were so loud, then suddenly, they just stopped. The silence was worse. The smell of copper and salt filled my nose until I couldn't breathe.

I blinked, and the floor of the courtyard came back into focus.

My head throbbed. These days, my thoughts felt like a cracked mirror. I could feel my humanity slipping through my fingers like sand. Most days, I didn't even know who "Valen" was anymore. There was only the rage, the darkness, and the constant, crushing weight of the Northern throne.

People think I’m the crazy King. They aren't wrong. Even the Alphas who report to me, the ones who are supposed to be my inner circle, look at me with fear and disgust. They don't like me. They just submit because they know I can rip their hearts out before they even blink. I was a pathetic mess, a monster waiting to happen.

Then she showed up.

I saw her walking toward us across the grass. Every time I looked at her, the rage in my brain cleared just a little bit. She was my lifeline. If anyone or anything in this goddess-forsaken world could reorder my life, it was her. My mate.

I glanced to my side. Darian was sitting on a sofa just a few feet away from mine. The elders had forced us to sit together to show unity, which was a total joke. I saw Darian’s eyes light up the moment he spotted her. The i***t. I really couldn't stand his self-righteous, uptight attitude. He sat there with his back straight and his face blank, pretending he wasn't pining after her.

If anybody is winning this round, it’s me, I thought.

I shifted my weight, feeling the twinges of pain from the gashes on my chest and the ache in my broken arm. It hurt, but the adrenaline was keeping me upright. I looked at Darian, hoping he was in a lot of agony, but the fucker kept his face perfectly still.

The female arrived, and her scent hit me like a big wave. She smelled awesome—like a field of flowers I couldn't put a name on. When she was near, the cold, frozen winter in my soul felt like it was finally turning into spring. I could feel a literal pull in my heart toward her, like a string was tying us together.

What I would give to just grab her right now, throw her over my shoulder, and run all the way back to the North. Or maybe I should just stay here and focus on getting her pregnant with my babies. The thought made my mouth go dry.

I watched her closely as she walked. Her hair was a beautiful mystery because it couldn't decide if it was brown or red, and it caught the light in a way that made my chest tight. She had these soft, upturned bow lips and rich brown eyes that looked like they held all the kindness I lacked. My eyes trailed down her slender body, lingering on the swell of her breasts and the hint of cleavage peeking out from her dress.

She looked so young. I wondered what her age was. Twenty two? Twenty three?

She finally reached us. I was so busy daydreaming about her that I almost missed Darian’s move. He reached out and patted the cushion of his sofa, offering her a seat next to him.

Irrational panic bubbled up in my throat. I suddenly couldn't breathe. My heart hammered against my ribs uncontrollably. Would she choose him? Is she going to go with him and leave me hanging? I knew it was just a choice of where to sit, but my unstable mind couldn't handle it. I stared straight ahead, trying to give nothing away, my jaw clenched so hard it ached.

Then, I felt the sofa beside me dip.

I turned my head. She was sitting right there, inches away from me. Her brown eyes were looking up at me, filled with a mix of confusion and concern.

She cleared her throat softly. “Are you okay, your majesty?”

I swallowed hard. Having her this close was really nice. My skin was buzzing. I gave her a stiff, awkward nod. I risked a glance at Darian, who looked absolutely irritated. I was tempted to give him the middle finger right then and there, but I reigned myself in.

I noticed a lot of the other wolves were staring at us, whispering and pointing. I felt a growl rising in my chest. They should stop looking at my mate. They were making her uncomfortable.

Her hand accidentally brushed against mine on the cushion. The contact was incredibly calming. The rage in my head went quiet. And then, something happened that hadn't happened in months.

Miss me?

The voice was clear, loud, and very much inside my head. I visibly jumped, my shoulders twitching.

Ash? I thought, my mind racing. Is that you?

No, I’m your evil twin stuck in your head, the wolf snapped. Of course it’s me. Sorry I left you hanging, Valen.

Ash had been... well, mad. For a long time, he hadn't been coherent. He was just full of fury and instinct that made my life a living hell.

It’s good to have you back, I told him. I paused, feeling a flicker of doubt. Is this temporary, or are you actually back for real?

I felt our mate, Ash replied, and I could feel his satisfaction. She was the push I needed to get myself in order. Don't lose her, Valen.

I won't, I promised.

Our conversation was cut short when Maddox, a ginger Alpha from my own lands, stepped onto the platform. He was one of the few who could actually handle me when I was in a mood.

“Let the games begin!” Maddox shouted. “To show the new peace and harmony between the North and the South, the Kings will open the floor with a special demonstration!”

Everybody started clapping. I felt a wave of annoyance. I wasn't in the mood for games, I just wanted to sit here and smell my mate.

Maddox reached into a basket and pulled out a small, folded ball of paper. He opened it and grinned. “The first game is called The Descent of the Moon.”

He looked toward us, and I saw a glint of mischief in his eyes.

“The rules are simple,” Maddox explained to the crowd. “A female from the pack will be placed in the center of the 'Labyrinth of Shadows' which is a small, magically darkened area of the courtyard. She will be suspended in a cage of vines that slowly lowers toward a pool of ice water. The only way to stop the vines and free her is for two Alphas to work in perfect synchronization.”

He pointed at Raven. “Since our Kings are the stars of the show, Raven will be the one in the cage. Each King will be placed on opposite sides of the labyrinth. They will be blindfolded. They have to navigate the maze and reach two separate levers at the exact same time. If one pulls before the other, the cage drops faster. They can only succeed if they work together and move as one.”

My blood ran cold. Raven looked at me, her eyes wide with fear. She most likely didn't have the strength to break out of a magical cage, and she definitely wouldn't be able to handle a pool of freezing ice water well.

Darian stood up, his face tight. I stood up too, my broken arm throbbing.

“You have fifteen minutes,” Maddox called out. “If you don't reach the levers together, your mate gets a very cold bath.”

I looked at Darian. He looked back at me. We both hated each other, but as I looked at Raven being led toward the center of the courtyard, I knew we had no choice. For the first time in our lives, we had to be on the same side.