TO KILL A KING

SIXTEEN-FACADE

KING

Days bled into nights into mornings into weeks until soon, too soon, it was the day of the ball.

The eve of the Elen trials.

Everybody had been training nonstop, myself included. We trained until our muscles ached and bones broke and each morning we awoke with a renewed sense of conviction, of purpose.

-We could do this.

But today, I just felt empty. I lay in bed with my arms outspread like some sort of macabre bird, just staring at the ceiling. 

I had no motivation to get up what so ever.

-At least until I heard a knock at the door that ripped me from my heavenly comfort. I forced myself up, wrapping a silk robe around my scantily clad nightmare. I even tried to peer at who or what was at the door from the massive floor to ceiling window that was centrepiece in my room, but alas the angle wasn't quite right.

I probably should've dressed properly before opening the door. It could've been considered improper. But I didn't care.

How scandalous, I thought. Half naked Alpha opens the door to her pack.

I flung the cabin door open, ready to have a go at whomever had dared to disturb my rest. Instead I was met with only empty air, and a package the size of a small child at my feet, wrapped nearly with a black bow.

I prayed it did not contain a small child. 

I hated the damned things.

Carrying the package back to my room and plonking it on my bed I pulled loose the midnight coloured bow, the elaborate package fell apart to reveal a dress.

The most beautiful dress I had ever seen.

The colour of  moonlight and secret kisses, adorned in thousands upon thousands of light reflecting crystals so tiny that you couldn't see them unless inches away. But it gave the most stunning effect as I lifted the dress from the box.

It nearly took my breath away as it shifted in the light, reminiscent of dark eyes and silver daggers and devastation in the moon light.

Words could not hold a flame to the true beauty of this dress, only it was the most stunning thing the mind could ever imagine.

I ran to the mirror, clutching it to my front. 

Dear god.

It was slinky yet seductive, tight yet not too tight. Cinching my body in all the right places, and showing all the right assets with its cowl neckline and high slit leg.

I turned back to the box after hanging  the dress neatly in my closet for fear of somehow ruining it. 

The box held a matching pair of heels along with a note sealed with crimson wax in the shape of a lion.

I tore it open, eager to read what was inside.

Dearest King,

I hope you like the dress, I had it specially made. Wear it tonight so I can find you, I can't wait to finally meet you.

I've heard so much about you.

X

The letter was signed only with the letter X. Who could it possibly be? Not someone in the pack, they all already knew what I looked like.

I can't wait to finally meet you.

Definitely not someone from the pack. But then again how did they know my name? Had word really travelled that fast to the surrounding packs?

X.

Fear suddenly gripped me as I realised just how dangerous this situation really was. I hadn't given the ball a second thought, assuming it would just be a few Alphas and their higher ups from the neighbouring packs... But what if it was something more.

What if one of the Alphas there recognised me from...

No. They wouldn't. They couldn't. It had been years since then. Since I made the worst mistake of my life. Trusting someone enough to let them influence my decisions. 

-Loving someone.

My skin bristled at the thought. Never again.

I thought about it over and over again, mulling over all the possible things X could stand for, maybe it didn't stand for anything at all. 

-The unknown variable.

Maybe North had sent it just to unsettle me, maybe the X was an endearment, like a kiss. Maybe he knew who I really was..

It didn't matter what it was or who sent it, it wouldn't change anything. I would be forced to the ball either way.

I showered, wrapping myself in a towel and sitting at my desk. Staring at my own face in the mirror.

I had changed my appearance countless times throughout the years, with every identity I had taken on. But now I was deeply regretting letting my hair return to its naturally dark colour. Hopefully anyone who recognised me would be thrown off by my eyes.

I had bartered with a witch to change them from blue to green. She had taken three days off my lifespan, and in return I was given emeralds instead of sapphires.

Glowing green eyes glared back at me. Despite everything, I had never felt so alive. My tan skin glowed in a way I never thought it could, and my hair was thicker, longer.

Your body changed after finding your mate, but I had no idea the changes would come so soon.

-They didn't last time.

I lined my eyes with Kohl, and dusted my eyelids with a colours previously foreign to me. I toyed with the cosmetics until the face that stared back at me was angular and sharp, yet devastatingly gorgeous.

I blow dried and straightened my hair, tucking it up into an elegant yet slightly messy bun, leaving small wisps of hair down to frame my face.

I debated not wearing the dress after all, if I dressed down I would be less noticeable. Less likely to be recognised.

Who was I kidding, it didn't matter what I wore I was certain to be the centre of attention all night anyways. Everybody was desperate to get a glimpse of the woman King.

I donned the gown. It was far too beautiful not to wear anyways. It would be a waste of a gorgeous gift.

My chest aches with a feeling that before all this was foreign to me.. Anxiety.

It clung to my body like a second skin. Glistening like the stolen moon itself. The cowl neckline showed off my breasts, yet not too much. And the seductive leg slit allowed just a hint of my slender legs.

The shoes were high, but it didn't faze me. For one of my previous identities I had almost exclusively worn heels.

For the final touch I glossed my lips.

Perfect.

It was then, as I stared into the eyes of my own reflection that I realised something. This was it.

This was my last stop.

I was done running.

I didn't want to do this anymore, I had found a home and I was willing to fight for it. No more running.

I also realised that maybe, it didn't matter who recognised me. North and I had more men than all of them.

I almost laughed. Even if they did recognise me. What could they do about it?

I mean yes, there was a small band of people, loyal to my biggest mistake who wanted nothing more than to see me dead. But realistically they had no chance.

Not now anyways.

Maybe it was time for me to stop hiding.

The ball started at 11.

It was 11:30.

A knock on the door.

I didn't need to check who it was, as I opened it to show the Alpha, dressed in a fine black tux, a midnight tie around his throat.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, repressing the beast inside that wanted to throw herself at him.

He was a murderer, I told myself. He killed Farrah.

Instantly I saw his devilishly dark looks as something more sinister. He was just as dangerous as he looked.

He looked like a freshly woken storm. A beautiful nightmare.

His gaze took hold of me, like a pair of hands wrapping around my waist as I stepped out onto the porch, locking my front door behind me.

"What?" I snapped. He hadn't stopped staring at me.

I was slammed against my closed door, his face inches from mine as he breathed, "What are you doing to me?"

I found my hands tangling idly in his hair, playing with the silky soft locks as I mused. "What's wrong Alpha? Don't you like it?"

A growl tore from North's throat, causing warmth to pool within me. As I felt his fists that were against the wall on either side of my head, boxing me in begin to clench.

Some sick part of me enjoyed having this much control over him. I pressed my palms against his strong chest, hard as concrete. Only to feel that his heart was thundering just as hard as mine beneath all these layers.

A shiver crawled over my skin as I watched his eyes slowly drag their way down my figure, before making their way up, only to linger on my chest for a moment too long.

"Eyes up, we need to go." I smirked. "Besides, what kind of hosts would we be if we were late to our own celebration."

We were already late enough as it was.

His reaction only filled with me with greater certainty. 

-If I could keep him light this for the duration of the night, it didn't matter who recognised me. No one would dare to revolt against two Alphas. Especially two that appeared so United.

I ducked out from underneath his thick arms, abandoning him and his unholy thoughts as I started off towards the ball without him.

"Don't you dare walk away from me." He barked, his sonorous voice fuelled by his beasts frustration.

"Then hurry up."

***

QOTD- any ideas as to Kings true identity?

Any thoughts? Theories?

Don't forget to vote and comment!

-TFOA