Beastmora- The Golden Six

by Kayley Behler

  “Where is your troublesome twin?” Veronica asked from her spot across the table, looking bored.

  “Dragon Core,” Valeria responded easily.

  “What you didn’t get accepted or something?” The sorcerer questioned as she accepted another drink from the waitstaff and Valeria tensed at the reminder of her failure.

  “Yeah,” Valeria replied lamely, pushing at the chalice of blood that was placed in front of her.

  “She is pursuing the academic program at the Grey Academy and interning at the GSI in Kalissa,” Florence spoke up from her seat beside Valeria, she didn’t know her mom was listening, “In fact, I am mentoring her in blood magic.”

  “Taking up after you, I see,” Veronica responded before turning her gaze to Valeria, “If you’re anywhere near as talented, I dare say you’d burn the world.”

  They lapsed into silence for a beat before her mother effectively led Veronica into a conversation about the sorcerer’s own pursuits. Beside her, Emalia nudged her before leaning in as if to spill some confidential information.

  “Would you like to know something interesting?” Her sister asked in Vampiric, which always meant secrets were about to be exchanged.

  “Of course,” Valeria responded eagerly, she wondered if this meant Emalia was no longer upset with her about the other day. She hadn’t gotten around to talking to Emalia in private, and she certainly wasn't about to apologize in front of her parents because then she’d definitely get in trouble.

  “High King Riley, the Wolf King and the current holder of the Dynasty,” Emalia whispered, flickering her eyes over to where the Wolf King sat. Every four hundred cycles another species would take its turn to be the governing Rulers of Rulers. High King Riley had begun his reign over Beastmora last cycle. “When Callan's father and mother were killed, they left Callan to Uncle Xan, but High King Riley vetoed the idea of a phoenix raising his grandson and forced Prince Lance to raise him. Uncle Xander obviously took it to court, but even with Mom’s persuasive influence, the courts sided with their king.”

  “But what about the parent's wishes? Doesn’t that out rule everything?” Valeria questioned, in VT, the parent’s wishes took priority, and she assumed everywhere was like that.

  “Not in wolf court. One of the reasons why Callan refuses to live in WT because of the speciest laws and the treatment of omegas,” Emalia answered looking at her mate with a warm expression that made Valeria want to throw up a little bit.

  “And that’s why Mom got so upset when you considered taking a job in WT,” Valeria mused, remembering the affronted look that came over her mother's face at the prospect.

  “Exactly.”

  “Why are you bringing this up though?”

  “Because in about two minutes, High King Riley will come over here and try to have a grandfatherly chat with Callan. I just didn’t want you to be confused when Uncle Xan gets all..petty,” Emalia explained indicating towards the table where the ruling dynasties family sat. Sure enough High King Riley was eyeing their table with a conflicted look about him. Valeria glanced from the Wolf King to her sister’s mate and didn’t see any likeness except for the broad shoulders and muscular body. High King Riley had light skin, shoulder length dirty blond hair, a matching beard, and broad shoulders.

  “Callan doesn’t look much like the king,” Valeria commented.

  “His father didn’t either. Seamus Claire took after his mother Maria, High King Riley’s mate.”

  “Callan’s the son of a bastard,” She exclaimed earning looks from everyone at their table. Fortunately, the only ones who understood what she said were her parents who gave them disapproving stares and of course, Henrik, who was too busy playing with Florence’s war medal to care.

  “If you are going to gossip,” Florence said in Vampiric, giving them both a pointed look, “Then I suggest you do it discreetly.”

  “Yes, Mom,” Valeria and Emalia mumbled before putting their heads back together.

  “Anyway,” Emalia continued, “Another notorious royal bastard is mom’s own half-brother, Vincent.”

  “King Dracul cheated on his wife, with who?” Valeria asked in shock, it was incredibly taboo for the royal family to have bastards. The fact that there were two existing at one time was rare. Most royals weren’t allowed to be with their mates at all and if they were their mate was to be made sterile. To Valeria’s knowledge, King Dracul’s mate was killed before he took the throne. So who was Vincent’s mother?

  “King Dracul just showed up with another son after the Demon War. No one knows when he was born or who his mother is,” Emalia responded before nodding to a dark-skinned fledgling or what appeared to be a fledgling standing near the railing, “He has a disease that made him reach his stopping age at only forty cycles old.”

  Valeria couldn’t help but study her Uncle, he looked so young, but she knew, for a fact, he was about the same age as the wolf next to her. She’d never seen or heard of Vincent, and she wondered why her parents never mentioned him. They’d talked about her mother’s two older brothers and late sisters but never him. Suddenly, the vampire turned and met her gaze. A chill ran down her spine, and she quickly looked away.

  “He’s a little creepy,” Emalia mumbled her voice so low that if Valeria hadn’t been looking at her sister, she wouldn’t have heard her. Before Valeria could ask what his problem was High King Riley and his mate, Maria approached the table.

  “Callan. It is good to see you,” Riley said with a sad smile, his eyes only meeting his grandson’s. Next to Callan, Valeria noticed Xander tensing up, “May I have a word after your speech?”

  “Sure thing, Gramps,” Callan replied his tone casual but his body rigid as the High King gazed at him as if he were a ghost. Valeria could tell that the Wolf King only saw his late son in Callan’s face. She wondered what else had transpired between them to cause such an awkward interaction.

  “And please save a dance for me,” Maria spoke up and touched Callan’s cheek, “You evaded me last cycle.”

  “Of course, Grandmother. I wouldn't dream of dodging you twice,” He answered, pulling Maria’s hand from his cheek looking more genuine than with the High King.

  “We’d love for you to join as well Dutchess Grey,” Riley said, turning his body to look at Emalia who nodded in response.

  “I’d be honored your majesty,” Her sister looked just as uncomfortable as everyone else as she grabbed onto Callan’s hand who relaxed under her touch.

  “The honor is ours, now if you will excuse us,” Riley nodded to everyone at the table before offering his arm to his mate.

  “It was lovely to see you all again,” Maria stated with a sweet smile before taking the Wolf King’s arm and leading him away from the group.

  “Oh how I love awkward interactions,” Ivan mused after the High King and his mate were out of earshot. Ivan placed a hand on Xander’s bicep, "Come on, let’s dance.”

  “That is a delightful idea, Derik would you like to dance?” Florence asked, looking to her husband.

  “I would be honored, my heart,” Derik responded, taking hold of Florence’s hand.

  “Mama, what about me?” Henrik asked, looking up at his mother, “I wanna dance.”

  “Well, how about you dance with Callan, darling,” Florence responded, with a natural smile as she and Derik stood, “He adores to dance.”

  “Will you?” Henrik questioned the wolf with hopeful eyes.

  “Yeah. Why not?” Callan shrugged, standing from his seat and taking the small vampire from Florence’s arms who giggled in response, “We’ll out dance all these losers.”

  “Can I walk around?” Valeria asked before her mom left the table then turning to look at Emalia, realizing she had forgotten about her sister, “Unless you want me to stay.”

  “No, I’m going to track down some food and besides Holland can keep me company,” The wolf replied, waving Valeria off and Holland smiled over at her sister. Valeria turned away from her sister to her mothe
r as Holland and her started discussing art.

  “So, can I?” Valeria asked her mom again, eager to be able to search for something. This was an excellent opportunity to scope out information.

  “Of course but steer clear of any of my relations, do not accept any drinks and stay where I can see you,” Florence responded, Valeria, wondered if all of her mother’s relations were creepy. She also wondered what occurred to make Florence avoid them.

  “Or what? You’ll send your slithers after me?” Valeria asked back, and for one moment, her mom looked surprised before it morphed into a smirk.

  “Precisely,” Florence answered, winking at her before pulling Derik to the dance floor. As Valeria stood and walked away from the table, she couldn’t help feeling the pride of surprising her mother. She had never done so before.

  Valeria made her way through the throngs of beasts, looking for something that could tip her off about the voices. Anything unusual but nothing really seemed out of place, not that she could tell because she had never been here before. Every beast was gorgeous, all of them possessed an air of royalty and importance. She had never been in a room with so many royals at once, despite being one. At this moment, she wished she had gone before just so she wouldn’t be so lost now.

  Valeria stopped and looked towards the dance floor where she saw, her parents gliding across the dance floor. Every step they took was in sync, they looked happy and grossly in love. The same elegance she saw in Ivan and Xander, but Ivan looked far too pleased that would make Valeria assume he was up to something. The opposite was said for Callan and Henrik, who were, to use Ivan’s phrase easily, bumbling around like trolls. She was caught up in watching the pairs dance across the floor when she collided with another beast. She turned to look at them to apologize, but the beast beat her to it.

  “Forgive me, Dutchess,” He said, inclining his head in a bow, “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

  “No, I shouldn’t have been standing in the way,” Valeria replied, looking at the stranger with curiosity. There was something about him that made her uneasy. The man looked messy and as if he had not slept for nights, but his clothing was tailored, meant to fit in with the crowd but didn’t. The stranger didn’t have the same air about him as the other attendees did.

  “The speech is starting soon, you should go back to your mother where it is safe,” The mysterious man said, and Valeria’s eyes were drawn to his neck where there was a black tattoo that she swore she had seen somewhere. Before she could ask about it, there was a body in front of her.

  “Keep moving before I cut your hand off,” The olive-skinned sorcerer said, she was dressed in all black and was blocking the view of the man. The stranger nodded, giving Valeria an offsetting smile before moving away from them.

  “You’re my slither,” Valeria exclaimed in surprise, and the woman looked at her taken aback before schooling her expression into a neutral one. The sorcerer was shockingly beautiful, Valeria had expected someone roguish, not this. Honestly, every slither she had met was pretty, did her mother only employ beautiful spies, or was it just a conscience?

  “Yeah,” The sorcerer replied curtly as she glanced around the courtyard, “He was right, you need to go back to your mother. The Vampire King is here.”

  “Wait!” Valeria started, but her slither pushed her towards where her mom was standing off to the side with her father and Henrik. Valeria surveyed the room then, looking for her sister and her uncle. Callan and Emalia had moved to stand by the stage with High King Riley in preparation of the speech. Xander and Ivan were standing by the Phoenix Queen. Looking back at the table she noticed Zoar and Holland where talking lowly but Veronica was missing. Valeria could not help but feel as if something was off. When she turned around to look back at her slither, the woman was nowhere in sight, she sighed before making her way towards her parents.

  “Florence, we are in public, he wouldn’t try anything,” Valeria overheard her father whispering softly to her mother in Vampiric, “He might not even come over here.”

  “Doubtful. Dracul has never met Henrik, he couldn’t resist. You remember what happened with Emalia,” Florence answered back before turning to look at Valeria with a smile, “How was your turn about the room?”

  “Fine… is everything okay?” Valeria questioned, looking at her mom imploringly.

  “Of course, darling,” Her mother reassured, brushing her long black hair behind her shoulder, “But I will ask that you remain at my side for the moment. The speech is about to begin. Would you mind holding Henrik?”

  “Um...sure,” Valeria responded, picking up her little brother who seemed confused by the arrangement. As much as Henrik loved her, he strongly preferred to be held by their mother, and it was quite rare for anyone else to hold him while she was present. Her brother always clings to their mother but for fledglings that was not unusual. Before Valeria could question her mother further on the arrangement, Florence’s gaze focused on the approaching figure of the Vampire King.

  King Vladimir Dracul was a fearsome vampire to behold, he had the same dark hair and shimmering eyes as his daughter. He had a proud look about him with his crimson cloak and bulky crown. He was the previous High King before the Wolf King. Just like with her Uncle, Valeria couldn’t help but feel anxious in his presence. She could sense the shift in her mother’s demeanor when he neared them, and Valeria remembered her mother’s words about her difficult childhood.

  “My darling daughter, how pleased I am to see you and with my grandchildren no less,” King Dracul drawled as he finally came to a stop in front of them, “Valeria and Henrik it has been too long since I last saw you. Actually, I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you, Henrik.”

  “We have been quite busy,” Florence supplied, she had subtly shifted, so she stood between the Vampire King and her children, “No time for visits to Bloodris.”

  “That is a shame, my dear,” The king said with a predatory smile, “I would have been delighted to show them around. I could even take them to your favorite areas.”

  “I think it not likely,” Derik interjected, giving King Dracul a false smile, “as Florence said, we are quite busy.”

  “Maybe I should take time to stop by the Grey Manor,” He responded, giving Derik a cruel look, “It has been awhile since I’ve been there.”

  “That will be unnecessary,” Florence answered quickly, bring her father’s attention back to her, “I will be in Bloodris within the week.”

  This seemed to appease the king, he smiled and took Florence’s hand within his own, “Splendid. I expect to see you in court then.”

  “Of course,” Florence responded calmly.

  “I heard your eldest was in the Dragon Core,” Dracul remarked.

  “No, my eldest is talking to King Riley, but my second oldest is attending the Dragon Core,” Florence replied with false politeness.

  “Indeed. Your ward has certainly grown bolder with her new mate.”

  “Yes, our daughter, has,” Derik corrected, Valeria watched the exchange with a controlled expression. Florence looked calm and collected, but she could sense the tension between King Dracul and her. Valeria and her siblings had only met the king a handful of times over their lives, and they never were alone with him.

  It seemed an odd thing to overlook now that she thinks of it, just as she was to ponder this further something caught her eye. It was the beast she had run into earlier, and he was moving quickly towards where Emalia was talking to High King Riley. Valeria finally recognized the tattoo on the beast's neck, it was the Demon King symbol, she had seen carved into his victims. She drew in a breath to scream at her sister to move, but before she could, everything exploded.

  * * *

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ashes to Ashes

  The world was ringing when Valeria hit the floor. She could feel the ground vibrating below her and a weight pressing on her chest, making her unable to sit up. Blinking away the dust from her eyes, she saw that the
weight was her brother, he looked like he was crying, but Valeria couldn’t hear him. Derik was lifting him off her and mouthing something. The ringing was the only thing she could hear.

  Suddenly her mother’s hands were cupping her cheeks, she was mouthing something, but Valeria couldn’t hear her either. Florence was covered in ashes, causing her red eyes to stand out amongst the grey. Valeria blinked at her mother, she felt sluggish and confused. Florence’s mouth kept moving, but she still couldn’t understand, in the next instance, everything came into focus.

  “Valeria!” Her mother said for what must have been the fifth time. Florence looked a mess. The silver crown that was on her mother’s head earlier was halfway off her head, barely hanging on by the strands of Florence’s hair. Next, to them, her father was trying to soothe Henrik, a quick glance told Valeria that they weren’t injured.

  “Em...she was, was by the blast,” Valeria coughed out, the ashes were still thick in the air. All the vampire could see was dust. In the distance, she could hear people screaming, but she wasn’t close enough to understand what they were saying.

  “I know,” Florence replied the worry evident in her voice. She pulled Valeria to her feet and from the corner of her eye, she could see her father cradling Henrik to his chest, her brother was wailing.

  “We have to find Emalia. She’s probably hurt,” Valeria urged, grabbing onto her mother a sense of urgency seizing her body.

  “And we will but..” Her mother trailed off and looked into the distance before snapping back to Valeria. Florence’s red eyes melted into gold, her face shifted into one Valeria had never seen on her face before, fear, “DEMONS.”

  The next instance, a portal exploded into existence above them, and demons poured from the glowing rings of the portal. The monstrous pictures Valeria saw at the museum were nothing compared to seeing them in person, it was the smell that stood out to her. Their blood smelled rotten, foul and just... wrong. Before Valeria could do anything, her mom thrust her towards her father, and then they were surrounded by beasts clad in black clothing, slithers.