4__To marry or to die
The flash in Raiden’s eyes was quick and a sardonic smile curved his mouth.
“Boys.”
A huge beast jumped over Natalia’s head. With a curse, she dropped to the ground as the werewolf landed before her father’s guards, its teeth bared in a snarl.
Before she knew it, the hall was filled with growls and she could no longer see past the furry beasts looming high over her head.
They were huge, gigantic! The unexpected sight of them triggered that sharp panic that Natalia hated so much and she quickly scurried back, away from the dominant creatures.
Natalia sought refuge in the corner by the potted plant as the Vampire Vikings, too, stood for battle. Hisses filled the air, fangs bared and claws out.
Drawing in deep breaths, she stifled the anxiety that violently rocked through her chest. This wasn’t the time for that nonsense. She had to get herself under control, there was no time for this.
Gripped by the presence of the werewolves, she turned away, avoiding the sight of them as she fought to calm herself.
King Kendrick stood behind his guards, teeth lengthening into sharp fangs, exposed in a dirty smirk.
“This insult will not go unpunished, you hound,” he hissed at Raiden.
Unfazed, Raiden stared at him. “It appears you’ve underestimated my Kingdom. If it is war you want, it is war you’ll get. You and your deceptive daughter will get what you deserve for this pathetic little scam.” He glanced at Brian. “Kill them.”
The Werewolves attacked.
Cries of pain and growls of agony filled the hall as the tension snapped and the Wolves and Vamps tore each other to pieces.
“All you have to do!” barked King Kendrick over the ruckus. “Is marry my daughter! Correct your filthy mistake!”
“You’re fucking insane,” Raiden hissed.
Be a wise and calm king as his mother had advised him, Raiden would do, but what he wouldn’t do, was allow his throne and his kingdom to be disrespected by some barbaric Vampire Vikings!
A sudden grab made him look back.
Manasa, the Chief Priestess, was hanging onto his arm, her eyes wide with things he couldn’t not read.
“King! King…!”
Alarmed, Raiden covered her hand on his arm. “Manasa… what is the meaning of this? Have the gods said anything to you? Literally, what the fuck is going on?”
Surely there was a meaning to this ridiculous interruption during his long awaited marriage ceremony. It would be too senseless otherwise!
Manasa shook her grey-haired head. “It must stop! You must stop this! The gods have finally spoken so loud and so clear, my bones are shaken by their voices!”
With a cry, she dropped to the ground, trembling as she gripped her head.
Raiden looked at her in puzzlement. Manasa had been the Priestess since her youth and since Raiden’s grandfather was King. If there was anything she had to say, the whole Kingdom had to listen.
Crouching, he laid a hand on her thin shoulder. “What’s happening, Manasa? Speak to me.”
As her tremors subsided, the old woman raised an arm and pointed past the fighting in the hall, her finger pointing into the far corner.
Following her gaze, Raiden turned to look and saw her there. That princess of Gadon, sitting casually in a corner and watching the chaos she’d caused unfold before her eyes.
Didn’t she look far too unaffected by what she’d done?!
Raiden’s mouth curled in a scowl. “Her? What? Are we to kill her? Is that what the gods desire?”
“No!” Manasa shook her head firmly. “No, no! Must protect her. You, King Raiden…” She looked at him, her black irises fading until only the whites remained. “You’re already bound to her!”
Raiden frowned, jerking his hand away from Manasa’s shoulder. “What?”
“Destruction is upon us, King.” Tears fell in black streaks from the Priestess’s eyes, her face contorting with grief. “You cannot allow this war with the Vikings, the gods are against it. The spirit of Death will cover Zaïre… the gods will not give us victory.”
“What in the devil are you talking about?” Raiden demanded. This whole situation had just gone from ten to a hundred too quickly. “Why would we lose a war with them?”
“It must not happen!!” Manasa roared.
Thunder boomed outside making Natalia jolt. She looked at the windows, seeing the sky quickly darken outside. What in the hell was that?
Lightening lit up the room and, quickly, Raiden raised a hand.
Brian whistled and the wolves retreated.
King Kendrick called back his bleeding guards with a smug grin. “Surrendering before the war even begins?”
Natalia sat cross-legged on the floor, also wondering what was going on. Wasn’t it taking them a bit too long to just agree that she’d marry this werewolf guy?
“Manasa,” Raiden said with trembling impatience. “If they initiate a war over whatever ridiculous reason they have… we’re fighting.”
The Priestess shook her head urgently. “No. No, no, no! It mustn’t happen!”
“Why not?!”
Manasa looked at him, slowly blinked and then opened her eyes. Her dark irises had returned and they were deep with unspoken words. “The gods have spoken, King Raiden. You must listen.”
Closing his eyes exasperatedly, Raiden pointed back at King Kendrick. “They came in here… unprovoked! They basically invaded our kingdom.”
“They’re in the right,” Manasa said firmly. She pointed her chin at Natalia who quickly got up off the floor. “You are bound to that girl.”
“Like hell I am—”
A sword was slammed into the ground, King Kendrick furious at the words he heard.
Raiden glanced back at him.
“Did you,” began Natalia’s father. “Or did you not spend the night with my daughter?”
Unable to answer the question, Raiden slowly turned his gaze to Natalia.
He glared at her. Was she even the same person? What he vaguely remembered was long, swaying hair, a curvy body in seductive clothing and enticing eyes outlined by long, dark lashes. The woman before him wore a black screw-neck t-shirt, tight, black leather pants and thick laced-up boots. Not to mention the dramatic leather coat that swung to the floor, covering up all the curves she had to show. Her energy had gone from ‘Seasoned seductress’ to ‘Dragon slayer’ in less than ten hours.
Raiden shook his head slowly. It had been a set up.
At the prolonged stare he kept on her, Natalia barely flinched. If she flinched at his stare, she’d never survive the time she would soon be spending in this castle.
Without taking his furious gaze off Natalia, Raiden addressed the Priestess.
“Manasa… what do I do?”
Manasa turned her gaze to Natalia, deeply confused by what she’d been ordered by the gods to say. She sighed. “Marry her.”
Raiden’s gaze shot to her face. “What?”
“Marry her,” Manasa repeated, shrugging in defeat. “Or face death.”