Mated To Rival Kings

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Raven's POV

After exactly five minutes, Darian released Valen’s hand with a grimace. He looked at me with a painful, forced smile, his eyes practically twitching.

"Happy now?" he asked, rubbing his palm against his trousers as if trying to wipe away the very memory of the contact.

"Very," I said, unable to hide my satisfaction.

I looked at the door and turned back to Darian, trying to sound helpful so they wouldn't start a second round of bruising each other's ribs. "Your majesty, please work on your reports. I’ll take King Valen away for a while to ensure you have total focus.”

Darian hummed a response, already reaching for his fountain pen. I started to lead Valen toward the exit, but we hadn't even reached the door before Darian’s voice rang out again.

"Wait."

We both paused. I turned around, curious. "Yes, your majesty?"

"Call my name," he said.

I blinked. It was such an odd, sudden request. "Why?"

"Just call it," he insisted, leaning back in his chair and watching me with those glowing amber eyes.

I felt a bit self-conscious, shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I gave him an awkward smile. "Darian."

"One more time," he said, his voice dropping into a lower tone.

"Darian," I repeated, my heart doing a little flutter.

"Good," he said, a dangerous smirk playing on his lips. "That’s all I want to hear you call me from now on. Call me 'your majesty' or anything else again, and I will spank your butt."

My jaw nearly hit the floor. My face went from pale to beet-red in half a second. It was an insanely bold thing to say, and if I were honest with myself, it was crazy hot. A part of me wondered if I should intentionally push his buttons just to see if he’d follow up on the threat. I was gushing internally, my stomach doing cartwheels.

But Valen wasn't having it. Goddess bless his heart, he stepped right in front of me, shielding me from Darian’s gaze. He let out an annoyed hiss.

"Hey, hey," he said, glaring at the desk. "Don’t threaten my mate. She’s gotten the f*****g message, Darian. Let’s go."

Valen didn't wait for a rebuttal. He grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the study. He was walking with such long, aggressive strides that I found myself almost running just to keep up with him. We moved through the winding hallways of the mansion like a whirlwind.

"Your majesty... wait," I panted, my lungs starting to burn. "I’m about to faint here. Slow down!"

Valen whirled around so fast I almost collided with his chest. I stumbled back, but he kept moving forward, stalking me until my back hit the cold stone of the hallway wall. He leaned in, trapping me between his arms.

"Only call me by my name, too. Okay, little mate?" he asked. His dark eyes were searching mine, looking for the same recognition I’d given Darian.

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Valen."

He gave a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes which looked very strange. "Good girl. Now, let’s go fight."

I stared at him, my eyebrows shot up to my hairline. "What? Fight? Why?"

"Yes," he said, pushing off the wall and starting to walk again, though slower this time. "You should be able to defend yourself with skillful maneuvers. If, for some obscure reason, I’m not there to protect you, you need to know how to handle yourself. Anybody that dares to hurt you..." He let out a slow evil smirk. "Make them pay."

As we walked toward a section of the mansion that led to the lower levels, Valen continued his rant.

"But there is one thing, Raven," he said, stopping at the top of a stone staircase.

"What?"

"No killing," Valen said firmly. "I will not teach you with killing in mind. I’ll teach you how to neutralize a danger, how to break a grip, or how to put someone on the floor. But we don't kill."

I froze. That was exactly the kind of noble, measured thing I would have expected Darian to say, not the "Unhinged King" of the North. My confusion must have been written all over my face because Valen let out a dry chuckle.

"Surprising, right?"

I nodded slowly. "I didn't expect that from you."

"It’s what people are most shocked about when they actually get to know me," Valen said, looking down at his hands. "It seems inconceivable that I would have such a principle given my reputation. That’s why I don’t let people know. It ruins the whole dangerous aura I’ve worked so hard on."

"So why do you have it?" I asked. "The principle, I mean."

Valen went quiet. The silence stretched on for several seconds, becoming heavy. He stared into the shadows of the staircase, his expression unreadable.

"You don't have to answer," I said hurriedly, feeling like I’d stepped on a landmine.

Valen looked back at me, his gaze softening. "Thanks. I'll tell you one day. I will," he added, almost like he was trying to convince himself as much as me.

We headed down the stairs, which opened up into a massive, stone-floored training ground. It was open to the air at the top, letting in the very last of daylight. Thankfully, it is well illuminated.

"Here we are," Valen said, stepping into the center of the space. "It’s good you’re wearing jeans. They’ll protect your knees."

Then, in one smooth, practiced move, he grabbed the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head.

I stood there, completely paralyzed. My eyes were doing a very thorough inspection of his bare chest, and my brain was screaming one word: Yummy. He was probably not as broad as Darian, but his muscles absolutely do not pale in comparison.

He had more of a really strong swimmers look with a chest that was rugged and defined, like they had been carved out of granite. He had a few scars across his ribs that only made him look more dangerous, and the light hair on his chest tapered down into his waistband in a way that made my mouth go dry.

Valen raised a hand to smooth out his dirt-brown hair, looking effortlessly handsome in the dim light.

Damn, a voice drawls in my head. That is one fine piece of meat.

Eva, you pervert, I whispered internally to my wolf. I can feel you drooling.

Eva just let out a yawn. Well, I can’t miss the show, can I? Look at those shoulders, Raven. We could climb him like a tree.

As Valen went about organizing some equipment like wooden hurdles, ropes, and some padded mats, I felt a sudden wave of guilt. Was there something wrong with me? How could I be so equally attracted to both of them? One minute I was melting over Darian’s amber eyes and the next, I was ready to lose my mind over Valen’s chiseled abs.

Is it even possible to love two people at once? And equally? I tried to remember who I liked first, but I got nothing. I held my head in my hands, feeling the beginning of a headache.

You’re worrying too much, Eva chided. It’s really unimportant. What’s important is that they are both ours either way. Enjoy the view.

Yeah, until the Elders take one of them away, I reminded her. The thought cast a dark shadow over us.

"Come over!" Valen called out, snapping me out of my thoughts.

He had set up an intricate array of hurdles and markers around the space. It looked like an obstacle course designed by someone who hated shins.

"First task," Valen said, leaning against a stone pillar. "Let's test your stamina. I want to see how long you can last before your legs give out. You need to run through these hurdles and then back to the start. Three times in seven minutes. Are you up for it?"

I felt a surge of apprehension. I was an Omega so I wasn't built like a warrior. But then I remembered that speed had always been my thing. I was fast, but I had never really tested my endurance levels.

I walked to the start point, bouncing slightly on the balls of my feet. My heart was thumping, partly from nerves and partly from the way Valen was watching me with that intense, focused gaze.

"Ready?" Valen asked.

"Ready," I said, crouching slightly.

"Go!"

I bolted forward, the stone floor hard beneath my feet.