Chapter 70
POV: Prince Raven Pierce
As he walked in front of the make-shift stage made just in front of the castle, he had this unreadable and stoic-looking face.
Everyone shushed as he came to a halt in front of the golden podium, not only out of respect for him, but also because he was now surrounded by a menacing and dark aura, almost identical to the King’s. This wasn’t his normal behavior not in front of everyone. He was always playful and smiling but totally not today.
There were a lot of thoughts that it was because of Shahara – that would explain his sudden change of mood – and it helped them – sort of.
But not with the Darkwoods and their allies.
He didn’t care less, though.
Think of the things that they want to think of. As he faced every pack that had gathered into the castle, Prince Raven let out a menacing smirk in his thoughts.
“Good evening, everyone. Before we start with the hunting game, I would like to give some reminders and instructions before this momentous event.” He seriously started.
But Lamina abruptly raised her hand to get his attention.
Prince Raven wasn’t surprised anymore with her distinctive rude behavior, but he maintained his unreadable expression causing Lamina to get intimidated a bit.
“With all due respect, Prince Raven, but we haven’t seen the King and Queen yet. I believe everyone is curious about where they are and why aren’t they here? I believe their presence is very important at this significant event. Besides, it is the hunting game ceremony.” Her voice seemed sincere, but there was a tiny hint of mischievousness laced in her voice.
Prince Raven sardonically smirked at her.
“Why did you suddenly bring this topic up? Are you implying something? Or are you expecting something to happen?” He playfully retorted back making Lamina’s smile fade in a snap.
Prince Raven chuckled as he slightly shook his head like he had heard some hilarious joke inside his head.
“You worry too much, Luna.” He scathingly commented causing Lamina to grit her teeth because of the pure irritation that suddenly intensified in her system.
“Don’t worry, they will be here shortly. Oh, speaking of, here they are. Everyone, all hail to the Alpha King and the Luna Queen!” He smirkingly announced as he raised his hand towards the grand stairs that were made of bricks.
Everyone seemed so shock well, out of everyone, the Darkwood’s priceless expression just made his day brighter. Describing them as being shocked was an understatement.
‘Let the hunting game, begin.’
Prince Raven whispered under his breath as he gave the Queen a knowing look.
***
POV: Queen Tamara Pierce
A few moments before the Hunting Game officially started, Tamara couldn’t let her eyes leave the King, who was letting Elder Zeparu tend his still bleeding wound. It was just yesterday that he had finally woken up, and he was still not fully healed yet.
Having the hunting game now, was just making her worry more about him.
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” She carefully asked him for the nth time, right after Elder Zeparu left the two of them.
King Hades smirked at her like he was so amused of her persistent questions. She sat beside him on their bed. He instinctively wrapped his arm on her waist as he placed his face in her neck sniffling her.
“Of course, Tamara. Don’t worry about me.” He gently replied as he slightly raised his head and then put it back on her neck once again.
Tamara let out a deep sigh.
After talking about what happened to her being taken over by her lycan form, Tamara had been enlightened with a lot of things.
King Hades even cursed Raven because he told her everything that happened and the things that might have triggered her lycan form to take over her. In fact, if the king had only found out that there was more than what the prince had told her, he might probably have gone ballistic because of it. But she didn’t want to go that far. She would truly want to help this time.
“We need to push this through, my Queen.” His voice suddenly turned serious and cold, and Tamara couldn’t agree with him.
The Hunting Game was a very important ceremony and an occasion that they should be celebrating. It was because this was their form of thanking the moon goddess for a bountiful year and hoping to have the same for the next.
This time, Hades finally stare at her and slightly tightened his embrace.
“I know, and I want to help this time.” She softly told him causing Hades to squint his eyes and stared at her, like he was weighing her words.
Tamara bit her lower lip as she met his cold and soulful eyes.
“But before I do this, I just want to ask something.” She suddenly felt embarrassed about the things that she still wanted to clarify.
She knew that it wasn’t the perfect time to ask him about it, but she knew that she was still learning to handle her lycan form and if that topic could certainly trigger her emotions, she’d rather want it to be clear with Hades.
“Sure. What is it?” King Hades’ attention was overflowing, and it was all directed at him now.
Tamara swallowed hard and looked away, but King Hades was patiently waiting for her answer. She let out a deep sigh.
“I just wanna be clear now, Hades. Why did you marry me?” She stared directly at his pitch-black eyes as she said those words.
“Is it because I won the competition? Or because I am the sacred emissary? Or is it because you want an h-heir now?” She continued.
No matter how much she tried to hide the bitterness in her voice, she just couldn’t. King Hades’ brows furrowed as he stared seriously at her.
“What do you mean?” He coldly inquired.
Tamara’s eyes moved down to her fingers which she was playing to divert her attention.
“Uhm, I don’t know. I think you just needed me to give you an heir and that uhm…” Tamara stopped as she couldn’t say the words that she wanted to say. She blushed as she couldn’t hide the embarrassment that she felt after she said those words. She couldn’t deny the fact that even though she might be facing possible heartbreak now, she wanted to clear her thoughts and face these feelings once and for all. Besides, she wanted to face her enemies with a clean slate.
If she had been broken because of his answer, then, she would just focus her anger and agony towards her enemies. If not…
Well, she didn’t truly know what would happen if not…
“What the heck are you saying, Tamara?” King Hades’ menacing and thunderous voice resonated in their room like he was offended or something.
“Well, uhm…” She couldn’t find the exact words to explain her feelings to Hades, but she just wanted to know his. She wanted to know his feelings… for her.
King Hades let out a deep sigh as he stared directly into her eyes. She instantly diverted her stare because of how intense his eyes were. However, Tamara couldn’t help but stare back at him and looked away again. But then, he ended up looking at her fingers instead.
“I am not really good at making myself clear to you, huh?” He sardonically stated, but she saw how he clenched his perfect jaw.
Her breathing hitched.
“Or am I really too good at hiding my real emotions. I apologized because this is how I was raised.” He said those words soulfully and so slowly that she could even taste the sorrow and bitterness in them.
But on the other hand, Tamara could also feel the excitement that suddenly rushed over her veins and made her heart thump in an unusual manner.
‘Don’t let yourself hope too much, Tamara.’ She castigated herself. She didn’t want to be disappointed in the end.
King Hades stared at her like he was baring his soul in front of her vulnerable and naked and she felt like she suddenly stopped breathing.
“Can’t you really feel it, Tamara?” His voice was soothing and lulling her.
She unconsciously bit her lower lip as the king stared at it – his eyes darkened instantly, as if a storm was trying to make him lose control.
“Let me tell you this, and let me make this clear to you, then…” He gently whispered, using his deep voice, as he moved his upper body to face her and placed his arms around her on both sides caging her.
“I didn’t marry you because you won the competition. I am glad that you did it, though. I also didn’t marry you because you are the sacred emissary. I marry you because I want you… Because I fell in love with you.” He said those words so gently and so sweetly that it was like making her dizzy because of the emotions that went with it.
“Heck, I would trade the world just for you to love me back, to be my wife, and to bear my children. I want all of you, Tamara… only you.” King Hades slowly whispered as he moved his face towards her only centimeters apart.
Tamara swallowed hard.
“You hear me, wife? I married you because I was f*cking madly and deeply in love with you. Since I laid my eyes on you, no one is entitled to be my wife except you.” He seriously declared but the solemness and sincerity were visibly written into his eyes.
Her heart felt clenched painfully but with overflowing happiness laced with it. Her eyes moistened with tears as she heard his soulful confession to her. Her breathing was heavy and too loud that she needed to swallow hard before letting it go.
It was her dream, and it was all coming true.
Finally, the king had truly fallen for her.
Only her.
He dipped his face towards her and kissed her senselessly. Tamara felt her lone tear escape from her eyes and continued giving him the equal passion and hunger in their shared kisses.
“I only wanted to be with you now, wife only you and no one else.” King Hades whispered, as he leaned his forehead against hers.
Her eyes remained closed as she nodded her head trying to keep up with him.
“Now, let’s end this f*cking game.” Tamara finally said, with her voice laced with full conviction and power.
Her eyes turned a bit of a darker shade of coffee brown because of the intensity of the feelings that they had shared.
She saw how he was affected by everything that they had shared, but Tamara knew better, he wanted the same thing as hers.
They needed to step up their game and finish this once and for all.
‘Let the hunting game begin…’ Tamara mentally thought.