Mated To Rival Kings

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Valen's POV

I found Raven in the kitchen, practically slaving away over a cutting board. Her eyes were red and streaming with tears from the onions she was chopping, and I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing at her misery. She looked so pathetic yet so determined that it was almost adorable.

"Who asked you to do all this?" I asked, leaning against the counter and watching her struggle.

She wiped a stray tear with her shoulder, trying not to get onion juice in her eyes. "Nobody asked me. I just wanted to make myself useful. I was starting to feel like a decorative ornament around here."

I stepped closer, a teasing smirk on my lips. "There are many other ways to make yourself useful that don’t involve making yourself cry over vegetables, little mate."

Raven huffed, throwing a chopped onion piece at me, which I caught easily. "No, I was once used to this kind of work. A few weeks of pampering in this mansion and I’ve become lazy. I need to keep my hands busy."

"That was your previous lifestyle," I said, my voice dropping its teasing edge. I reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. "And you aren't going back to it as long as I have any say in the matter. You’re meant for better things than this."

She smiled sweetly at me, her hands now busy molding dough for the evening rolls. I noticed the kitchen staff were practically vibrating with nerves; having a King lurking in their workspace was clearly more stress than they were used to. Eventually, Raven noticed too and shooed me out so they could finish dinner in peace.

We were finally summoned to the dining room. It was the four of us: myself, Darian, Raven, and that sly woman, Celeste.

The table was spread with enough food to feed a small army, or at least four hungry wolves. We all dug in, but I couldn't stop staring at Celeste. She was using a set of silver cutlery that looked incredibly pretentious and uncomfortable. She held her fork like it was a fragile relic, taking tiny, calculated bites. There was no way she was enjoying that meal. There’s a level of properness in the South that will never make a bit of sense to me.

I personally would have preferred to use my fingers, but I knew Darian would lose his mind if I went full savage at the table. I stuck to my spoon and ate with relish. Raven was eating well too, her appetite finally back after the heat. She reached for a bowl of spicy crab and, before I could utter a word of warning, bit right into a large claw.

Spicy crab is a Northern delicacy. It’s an acquired taste because it is heavily seasoned with peppers that grow in the frost and only a few outsiders can actually stomach it without a gallon of milk.

Raven’s face went from pale to beet-red in three seconds. She started coughing violently, her eyes watering all over again. Darian was at her side instantly, almost as if he’d teleported. He pushed a cup of water into her hand and shoved the bowl of crab to the far end of the table.

"Why would you eat something unfamiliar to you?" Darian asked, his voice full of worry as he rubbed her back. He shot a glare toward my side of the table. "It’s obviously some Northern crap."

I sneered, reaching out to grab a crab leg and snapping it loudly before eating it aggressively. "Not my fault you Southern pansies can’t stomach real flavor. It’s the best thing on the table."

Raven finally calmed down, her breathing evening out, while Celeste stayed quiet in her seat. She didn't look pleased at all watching Darian fuss over Raven. She watched him like a hawk, her eyes cold behind her mask of politeness.

Once we finished, we retired to the lounge for a bit before Celeste wandered off to whatever corner of the house she was haunting. We said our goodnights and I crashed into my bed. I was so exhausted I felt like I could sleep for a century.

I couldn't have been out for more than an hour when the familiar, soul-crushing coldness hit me.

Fuck. f**k. f**k.

I thought it was over. I thought the episodes were done. When was this ever going to stop? Was it going to haunt me until I finally mated with Raven? I should have known that Celeste’s arrival would trigger something. Uncertainties and stress were always the catalyst. I should have prepared, but it was too late.

I was right in the middle of it.

I was running. My paws hit the forest floor with light thuds, my heart hammering against my ribs. My crazed mind had one singular, agonizing focus.

Pale. Frail. Dead.

She was dead, and it was all my fault. The guilt was a heavy weight, crushing the air out of my lungs.

Suddenly, the forest warped. The trees melted away into familiar stone floors and massive, looming pillars. I was back in this place.

Blood. So much blood.

Where did it come from? How? I looked down at my body, but everything was a blur. Fragments of memories slashed through my mind like glass. I saw myself—or a version of myself—slashing at someone with wicked, stained claws.

Who are these people? Why am I here? I want to leave!

A woman’s face flashed before me. She looked anguished, her eyes wild with grief. "You killed my mate!" she shrieked.

I shook my head violently, trying to back away, but I tripped over my own feet and collapsed. My body felt smaller, weaker. I looked around for an exit, but everything was fuzzy, stained a deep, sickening red.

Help, I cried out silently. Please, someone take me away from here.

Then, a scent broke through the metallic tang of blood. It was the soothing, grounding scent of wild, soaked earth and rain. It was so stark against the nightmare that I clung to it like a lifeline. I focused everything I had on that scent, and the bloody palace started to fade.

I felt myself returning. I was on a soft bed, though I was halfway falling off the side. My consciousness stitched itself back together, and I realized I’d had another episode. It felt milder this time since I hadn't destroyed the furniture or shredded the curtains.

Then, a movement caught my eye.

Darian was standing by the doorframe, leaning against the wood. The room was dark, but my wolf sight allowed me to see him clearly. He was just watching me, his expression unreadable.

I sat up slowly, rubbing my face. For Goddess’s sake, how low was I going to fall? This was the second time the other King had seen me like this. I cleared my throat, trying to find my voice. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard sounds," Darian said quietly. "I came to check on you, figured you were having another bad dream. I thought it was better not to antagonize you by getting too close. I didn't want to wake Raven because she needs her rest. Since you weren't being aggressive, I just stayed to make sure you didn't hurt yourself."

I felt a lump in my throat. I actually felt like bursting into tears, but grown men—especially Kings—don't cry. I felt a rush of more raw emotion, but I forced it down and cleared my throat again. "How long were you standing there?"

Darian checked his watch. "Thirty-five minutes."

I wanted to punch myself in the face. Thirty-five minutes of him watching me thrash around like a wounded pup. I opened my mouth to apologize for ruining his sleep, but Darian held up a hand.

"I know you’re grateful," he said with a small, tired smirk. "What would you do without me? Honestly. Take some water and go back to sleep, Valen. Hopefully, it's a restful one this time."

He turned and left without waiting for a reply. I was speechless. I lay back down, staring at the ceiling, trying to process the fact that my once rival was becoming my keeper. I called out internally. Ash? Buddy, you there?

There was no answer. Ash was silent, likely exhausted from the episode. I tried not to let the silence worry me and eventually drifted back to sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, it was morning. A cheerful knock at the door pulled me from the sheets. I opened it to find Raven standing there, looking radiant.

"Good morning!" she chirped. "Let’s go have some morning tea. The others are already downstairs."

Then she looked down and realized I was shirtless. Her face went a delightful shade of pink, and her eyes traveled over my chest and stomach with a hunger she couldn't quite hide. I didn't say a word; I just reached out, pulled her into the room, and hugged her tightly.

I needed the warmth. I needed to feel her heart beating against mine to chase away any lingering chill from my dream. She didn't resist. She hugged me back just as fiercely, as if she knew I’d had a rough night. It was warm, filling, and perfect.

I pulled away eventually. "Let me put something on. I’ll join you in a minute."

I retreated, threw on a shirt, and followed her downstairs.

Celeste was already there, sipping her tea with that same pretentious elegance. Darian was reading through some official-looking papers while he drank. I walked to the table, picked up one of the porcelain cups Raven liked to use, and handed it to her. She accepted it with a bright smile.

I took the second cup for myself and took a long drink. The tea was refreshing, clearing the last of the cobwebs from my head.

I turned to Raven to ask her about her plans for the day, but the words died in my throat.

Raven had gone completely ashen. Her hands were trembling, and her eyes were wide with a sudden, localized terror.

"Raven?"

My heart dropped to my stomach as the cup she was holding slipped from her fingers, shattering against the floor.