The Assassin Queen

Crown Prince

Chapter 3

Kraven Woods is the prince of the werewolves, next in line after his aunt had destroyed the Lycan’s, killing them from the inside out and then named his father the King of his own territory, all while my aunt ruled over the rest of the continent. His father was furious about the fact that he was only given Aleria, while she ruled over the whole of Celenthea. When he was the one that ensured she would be able to take the throne with the promise that they would rule the continent as one.

His father ordered a few of his trusted council to find the most feared, but discreet assassins to duel in a competition that will not only test their strength, but also their mind and their ability to hunt and kill those that fall under the rule of my aunt and in doing so, he plans on taking over every lord and lady she had appointed as well as their land and people and over throw her before she even knows what hit her.

Kraven for one, doesn’t care what his father does. Ten years ago when the royal Lycans were hunted and killed after completing their side of the treaty after a bloody war that had cost the lives of werewolves and Lycan’s alike. An arranged marriage to my aunt. A union of the Lycan’s and werewolves. Lycan’s wanted peace, werewolves wanted power. And Kraven wanted nothing to do with it, but here he is, picking the one assassin that he knows can win this silly competition, but will also show a big f**k you to his father as he will be forced to give the contract to the one and only assassin he truly despises.

The doors to the keep he has been waiting in opens and a thin woman with torn clothes and chains on her hands and feet are dragged in by the guards. Once the guards are close enough for him to scent the blood on her, he tells them to stop. With a nod of his head, the guards leave the room, but stays close enough that one wrong move from Dravena, and they will have he killed before she can so much as leave a scratch on him.

The scent of her blood awakens his wolf, causing him to beat on his cage, begging to be let out, begging to hurt whoever had hurt the woman in front of him. He is so startled by his wolf fighting for dominance, that it takes him a moment to gather himself. He can feel himself talk, half listening to her replies, but his wolf is fighting so hard to take over, even trapped in that cage that is only unlocked on a full moon, that he is hardly focused on the conversation. When he can’t take his wolf beating on his mind, and the scent of blood that is becoming stronger the longer she stands there, he calls in the guards, giving them the order to clean her and get her dressed in proper clothes. She can’t be showing up in the castle looking like a weak slave, or she will be dead before she can walk through the gates.

“Who had her wiped?” He asks through clenched teeth at the remaining guards.

“The guards take turns, with her being here for the past two years, we have all had the opportunity of teaching her a lesson.” A guard near the door says, clearly not sensing the danger as he proudly announces that he had just beaten her last week for falling asleep while she was on duty. Before the guard can go on with his rant about how many times he has had the opportunity to beat her to an inch of her life, Kraven rips out his throat, moving faster than the eye could catch. With his wolf so close to the surface, his speed and strength is unmatched by this pathetic excuse for werewolves. Honestly, if he could, he would kill them all, send their heads to his father on a platter.

He hates the mines, hate for what they stand. Children, mothers, fathers, all of them, no matter the age or the gender, they were all brought here as some sick show of the consequences of daring to speak up, to fight against the heartless new rulers of Celenthea. It is sickening, but he would be dead before he could make any significant change if he rushed in and tried to save every slave.

“If I hear of another whip hitting the flesh of a woman or child, I will be back here, finishing what I started here. Is that understood?” Kraven asks, blood still dripping from his hand, the dead wolf lying at his feet.

“Only your father gives us orders.” One of the guards say, straightening his spine as if he is so sure that my father will protect them from beating whoever they want.

“My father isn’t here, and as far as you are concerned, any command I give, is just as powerful and due the respect it deserves. One more woman or child, and I will ensure you never lift a whip again. Is that understood?” The guard looks furious, but nods and Kraven takes in a deep breath, his wolf calming after the blood is spilled and the guards are officially pissing themselves in fear of what he might do.

“Bring the girl to my horses when she is cleaned.” He says, walking out to find his guards waiting patiently. He needs to figure out why his wolf is fighting him and get it under control, or he is going to have a really long five years to look forward to.