Chapter 5

Zirah

The vampire guard grabs the woman, and I cringe, noticing it is Neil, the same vampire from the stables who wanted this girl for himself. He pulls her away from me as I claw at her dress, and before I can stop him, he sinks his teeth into the woman’s neck. Her bloodcurdling screams ring out just as arms lock around my waist, ripping me away from her.

King Regan drags me away, his grip tight as I am pulled back against his chest. I scream for the woman thrashing in the vamp’s grip, her movements grow weaker, and her eyes widen as the monster feeds on her. The women behind us are screaming when I feel King Regan’s grip tighten, stealing the air from my lungs.

He buries his face in my hair, his nose trailing down the column of my neck. I lash out, thrashing harder when he growls. His claws slip out, sinking into my ribs, and I gasp at the sudden pain. “You won’t fight me,” he growls next to my ear before I feel his claws retract, and the piercing pain leaves my ribs.

The vampire tosses the woman’s lifeless body aside, and the women behind me break into sobs. I look into her staring eyes and blink. Rage bubbles inside of me as I take in her pale, limp body discarded like trash.

“You asshole,” I scream when King Regan’s hand grips my neck, forcing me to look up at him.

“I knew something about you intrigued me,” he chuckles darkly, his eyes flickering to show what sort of beast he is beneath the facade of man.

“I love when they fight. And you’re a fighter, aren’t you, little human, you’ll fight, won’t you? You won’t run like a coward like she did?” he purrs, but he sounds more threatening than intrigued .

“Fuck you!” I spit at him.

“I may take you up on the offer before I let them kill you,” he snarls, running his tongue across my cheek.

“Your fear is intoxicating. I do hope you survive. I could have so much fun breaking you.” I glare at him before attempting to shove him off, but it is like trying to move a brick wall.

King Regan laughs before inhaling my scent, his nose skimming across my face. “I must admit, for a human, you smell rather good. I wonder what you taste like. Do you taste as enticing as you smell?” he purrs.

“You’ll never find out!” I snap back. He growls, turning me to face the audience we have gathered. His hand grabs my breast, making me cry out as he squeezes hard, while the other cups between my legs through the paper-thin dress.

“Are you sure about that?” he purrs, squeezing harder, and I grip his wrist.

“Do you think they would stop me if I threw you down and fucked you in the dirt?” he growls. My eyes scan the faces of those present. Malachi looks away as if nothing is happening, and the women just stare in horror. He is right. Not a single soul would stop him.

“Maybe I will let my men have you when I am done before I let my wolf rip you apart and feast on your innards,” he snarls.

“Brother, come now. Play with your food later,” Zeke calls, and Regan huffs.

“You have no control here, not over anything, especially your life. You’d do well to remember that next time. If there is a next time, though, I doubt it very much.”

He shoves me roughly and steps away. His two brothers have already set off toward the castle, but before he trails behind them, King Regan addresses us. “Let this be a warning to the rest of you. You run. You’ll meet the same fate as her.” He points to the dead woman before his eyes flick to me. “Are we clear?” he asks, and I clench my jaw and nod once. He turns his attention to Malachi.

“Get them to the maze. Any of them run. Kill them,” King Regan snaps. He then turns on his heel and follows his brothers, who have already disappeared into the castle.

Malachi comes over and grabs my arm, hauling me back in line. “You must have the gods on your side, girl. I have never seen King Regan let someone live after such disrespect,” he tells me, and I swallow the dread that threatens to suffocate me.

We are led to the far back of the castle grounds, and as we crest the top of a small hill, I stop in my tracks. My breast still hurts, and I wonder if I have bruises because I can still feel his fingers as if they remain embedded in my flesh.

From the top of the small hill, I can see the land surrounding the castle is just an enormous maze. The walls are impossibly tall hedges filled with thorny roses and thick black vines coiling through the greenery. They look almost impenetrable. Whoever the gardener is really made sure those walls weren’t to be scaled or pushed through.

A hard shove from behind sends me moving after Malachi. The whispers and murmurs from the whimpering women are filled with terror, and I glance over my shoulder to find their faces have gone sickly pale as they peer down into the maze where we are meant to die.

There is nothing I can say to put the other women at ease, but as I clear my throat to try, movement from the castle’s huge wraparound balcony catches my attention.

We all jump when we hear a loud roar followed by a crash. I peer up to find the three kings looking furious, glaring at their father, who stands by the railing.

We all stop to watch the spectacle, including our guards. Zeke is clearly arguing with his father while Regan paces like a caged animal, but he stops abruptly, turns, and looks down over the railing toward the maze, then at us.

Malachi rips my attention away from the kings as he grabs my arm and drags me back into the formation I unknowingly stepped out of. Trudging down the hill, I steal another glance at the balcony to find all three kings watching our death march.

Lyon shakes his head as he walks away, and I notice his father is also gone when Malachi speaks. “As I said earlier, you best pray the maze kills you. I have a feeling they will send in their wolves for the survivors, knowing if anyone lives through the maze, their hands will be forced . . .” Malachi states but trails off.

“Wolves, as in werewolves?” a girl behind me stutters.

“No, they are pets. Though I believe they’re more savage than werewolves,” Malachi answers.

“How so?” I ask curiously.

“Because the three kings raised them since they were pups. They found them while hunting after accidentally killing the mother. Their father ordered them to raise the animals. They have been with the kings since they were small boys.”

“But wouldn’t they be old or even dead by now?” I question.

“Not when the kings feed them their blood daily. Those wolves are savage and obedient. If the maze doesn’t kill you, their pets will,” Malachi warns. If that’s supposed to offer hope, it does the opposite.

“What’s in the maze?” the girl behind me dares to ask as we stop at the massive entrance.

“Step in and find out,” Malachi taunts, his lips tugging up and showing off his sharp canines. Until he smiles, you could almost forget that he’s a monster.