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Chapter 6

Regan

As I approach the top-floor balcony of the castle, I can hear Zeke arguing with our father. Stepping out into the night air, it becomes abundantly clear something has ticked Zeke off. He’s furiously glaring at our father, and Lyon stands leaning against the wall near the bird feeders, watching with a look of disinterest. Such a Lyon thing to do. I swear, he cares little for anything but getting his cock sucked or tormenting our brother. For the most part, he knows better than to push my buttons. It would only end in him being pummeled from an inch of his damn life. However, Zeke occasionally likes to tempt death.

It takes a lot to rile Lyon up, yet getting under his skin has become a game to Zeke, which is why those two have such an on-and-off relationship. One minute they get along fine, the next, they are plotting against each other. Either way, they’re both snakes.

“What’s this about, father? Malachi said you changed The Maze Games this year,” I ask, falling heavily into the chair surrounding the metal fire pit. A server brings me a whiskey, and I take it while watching as my father shakes his head at a raging Zeke and waves him off. My brother’s temper has always had a short fuse, but never toward our father, so something has irked him to no end.

“This is some fucking bullshit,” Zeke growls as my father takes his seat across from me.

“Shelley, dear, can you get me a glass of water?” my father asks the young maid Lyon has been eyeing. I raise an eyebrow at him when his gaze meets mine. He smirks, knowing he was caught checking out his latest victim. The human girl scampers off, and my father leans back in his chair.

“Zeke, stop acting like a child and sit down,” my father commands. Zeke mutters something inaudible, which makes my father scowl.

“You’re changing The Maze Games this year. We noticed there are no male contestants, and I want to know why,” I state, watching the maid trot back through the door with a tray of drinks.

Zeke scoffs and shakes his head before snatching his drink from the frightened maid, who grips her tray tighter to conceal her trembling hands.

“Yes, I have made some changes. You boys will compete in the games this year.”

I nearly drop my glass and choke on the mouthful I just took. “Excuse me?”

“Now you know why I am pissed off, but the old fool wouldn’t tell me why until you arrived,” Zeke says dismissively.

“Are you looking to hire us within the castle, father?” I laugh. This is ridiculous. The Maze Games are held each year. People compete as a punishment, and those who survived were given jobs within the kingdom. Those who died were not worthy. Though no one has survived the maze in over thirty years, so this year will be no different.

“No, Regan. You will not be competing for a place inside the kingdom. You three will be competing for my throne,” he states just as Shelley hands my father his drink. Lyon pushes off the wall to join us, clearly shocked by this information.

“Your throne?” Lyon asks, confused. Neither of my brothers are worthy of the position. They can barely run their own kingdoms. My father holds power over ours, but I am the fucking oldest, so this information has me seething, and why the sudden rush?

“I want to stand down—” my father starts.

“What has that got to do with us competing in this ritual?” Lyon demands.

My father sighs heavily, his eyes moving to each of us. “You boys have been competing for this kingdom your entire lives. None of you are worthy,” my father states, and I scoff.

“Something funny, Regan?”

“I have been running my kingdom and yours for a fucking century, and you want to pull this shit? You dare tell me I am not worthy?” I snarl.

“That may be so, son. But your temper and barbaric ways make me hesitant to hand over the highest seat in the four kingdoms. Zeke is an alcoholic—”

“Oh, here we fucking go again,” Zeke groans, having been scolded for his drinking problems plenty of times.

My father shoots him a look. “As I was trying to explain, Zeke can barely manage his kingdom’s people, let alone run it. Lyon is oblivious to today’s politics. I don’t know where your mother and I went wrong, but you three are a pack of damn savages. Not one of you is worthy of my throne, and not one of you has even a sliver of humanity,”

“Humanity? We aren’t human!” Zeke retorts, waving his glass at the maid for a refill. My father rubs his temples in frustration.

“Goddess help the kingdom if that fool wins,” my father mutters.

Zeke curses at our father under his breath, and seconds later Father’s fist comes down on the small table beside his chair. The wood smashes to pieces from the force, making Zeke jump to his feet.

“You listen here, boy. I am sick of your snide comments. I am the ruling monarch, and all of you will compete. I’m unable to decide if any of you are worthy of my throne. This is the only way I can choose. You do not have to like it, but you will accept these terms or forfeit your rights!” my father bellows.

This is ridiculous. I shake my head, downing the rest of my drink. “So, what are the rules?” I ask him, wanting to get this over with already.

Father calms down and leans back in his chair. “Since you all lack humanity, when the women enter the maze, the sole winner will be offered a prize. One that has never been offered before,” my father states, looking at us.

The sliding door opens , and Shelley doesn’t shriek as our wolves proudly step onto the balcony. We have had them since they were pups. There were originally four, but when my mother died, hers died protecting her.

We accidentally stumbled across a den, and the mother wolf attacked. We killed her before finding her four pups inside. My father forced us to raise them as a punishment for sneaking into the woods. Now the four pure white wolves have become our pets—amazing creatures, intelligent, and just as savage as we are.

Lyon whistles and Shadow rushes over to him, dropping at his feet. Hunter, Zeke’s wolf, strolls over casually, taking his spot by Zeke, and I click my fingers, pointing to the floor for Gnash to come to me. He follows directions obediently and rests his head on my lap.

“If only you cared for your kingdom as much as you did your pets, this wouldn’t be an issue,” Father states, and I roll my eyes.

“The maze?” I demand, watching him.

“Once the winner is announced, you three will enter the maze. The first to hunt their bride wins the throne.”

My brothers and I jump to our feet in outrage. “Bride?” I roar furiously. Has he lost his mind? Does he seriously expect us to go along with his shenanigans?

“This is your grand plan, Father? We marry a fucking human to save our humanity!” Lyon yells, finally coming to his fucking senses and understanding the gravity of this situation.

“I’m not fucking marrying anyone. You’ve lost your damn mind, old man,” Zeke snaps. Father, unperturbed by our anger, listens to us rant and rave at him about the ridiculousness. He almost seems tired, though how I hadn’t noticed before is beyond me. Looking at my father now, he doesn’t seem so full of life.

Granted, it has been months since I last saw him. I usually run my kingdom and his remotely, thanks to the advancement of technology. That’s probably the only good thing about humans; their curiosity brings constant advancement—when it doesn’t get them killed. The humans are mere worker bees. They live to serve, hoping for recognition and social status.

“If you tamper with the games, you’ll be disqualified,” Father states.

This explains why only women were competing this year. I curse, shaking my head. “And if no one survives?” I ask.

“Then we start again until one does, and I can hand the throne down.”

“So what, it’s a foot race?” Lyon asks, showing a little more interest than usual in kingdom politics. He has never shown an interest in the throne before.

“Yes, but there are conditions. I know you boys will do anything to get out of marrying. So I have placed rules. One is that you cannot kill the bride the day after the wedding. Two, the woman who wins the games will survive and rule aside you. Three, no harm will come to your future bride. If she meets an untimely demise, you will relinquish both your kingdom and the main kingdom’s throne!”

I scoff. I can’t believe this shit.

“So you are not only forcing us to compete but to marry and stay fucking married? And to a human!” Zeke says, disgusted.

“Yes, the human part is a slight fault that can be changed. You may not be able to change her, but your blood will make her immortal like your wolves. The woman who wins The Maze Games will be rewarded by being made queen, ensuring her future within the kingdom.”

“Exactly what is the point of marrying when no woman can carry pure lycan children?” I demand.

“For a king to rule, he needs a queen. You three failed to take mates, so I am forcing your hand. Now I am done with this conversation and growing tired. I will watch the games from my quarters. In the morning, you all will enter the maze,” my father says, rising from his chair and dismissing us.

“If you want us to compete, I have a request,” I call after him, and my father stops.

“No, you will participate. You have no choice,” he snarls, clearly over this discussion.

“And if all three of us refuse, who will you choose then, Father?”

“What is it you want, Regan?” he demands, turning slowly and leveling me with a heated glare.

“What are their tests?” I ask.

“Lions and vampires. I am only doing two tests, not the usual three,” he tells me.

“How about you remove the vamps and lions?” Lyon tilts his head with a wicked smile making his lips tug up. He knows where I am going with this, and he knows no one will survive. We would then have another year before the next trials.

“What do you suggest?” Father demands.

“We send in our wolves,” I tell him, motioning toward Gnash.

“That’s it?”

“Is it not enough?” I ask him, a glint in my eye, and I watch him look at our three wolves.

“The winner would have to get used to our wolves anyway, Father.” Lyon shrugs. “If a woman survives them, I may see her worthy of hunting.”

“Those beasts are more savage than the lions,” he snaps. I nod because he’s right. The number of lions we have gone through because our wolves wanted to play is shocking. When they are hungry or following orders, they can be bloodthirsty and savage.

“Come now, Father. Lyon and Regan are right. If you want us to enter the games, we will, but we want some say in it,” Zeke chimes in behind me.

My father growls but nods once. “Fine, have it your way. But I will listen to no arguments about having to enter the maze in the morning.” He turns on his heel and stalks off inside.

I press my lips in a line and move toward the balcony, peering over. My eyes roam the maze before falling on the women entering this year. Shaking my head, Lyon chuckles behind me. “They don’t stand a fucking chance now.” He laughs, and my eyes land on her.

The girl from the stables who I should have killed.

Something nags at me. Something I can’t place, and I hold her gaze, which appears curious yet unafraid. Lyon and Zeke come over just as Malachi pulls her back in line with the others.

“This is supposed to be a game,” Zeke growls.

“It still is. Now it just ends in marriage!” I tell him, turning back and heading for my old room to get out of this damn suit.

“If one survives,” Zeke says, mockingly.

“Not a chance.” Lyon chuckles.

“Gnash, come!” I call, and he chases after me.

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