“I know. I didn’t think you’d ever betray me. I was just worried that you’d have no choice but to forgive him if he decided to take me out later on once you two bond closer,” I said. It was still in the vicinity of my concern, just worded differently.
He nodded. “I see. That motherfucker better not touch you, I know that much.”
I laughed. “Well, that’s all I wanted to hear. Now, what are you going to do with Slade?”
“That boy’s ass belongs to me.”
“Well, that’s a conversation between you and Kendrick, I suppose. Good luck with that.”
He laughed this time, then he began to settle down. “Hey, Deacon, if you don’t mind, can I just be alone? I need to figure this shit out.”
“Sure. I get it.” It was rare to see Elliot in such a state of contemplation, but it wasn’t every day you discovered your mate was a dragon King/ Alpha wolf hybrid hellbent on killing everyone in the colony and taking over. Not to mention, from my first impression of the man, he seemed very dominant and if they were mated, there was going to be a lot of fighting in the bedroom about whose cock was going to go into whose ass. Man, to be a fly on the wall at that time.
Anyway, I needed to tend to everyone.
~*~
A little over an hour later, all of my dead wolves were resting on their individual wood pyres. The stacks of wood didn’t have to be high, just enough off the ground to pay respects to their bodies. I decided to wait until all the dust settled before I commenced the ceremony, which would just be me saying a few words to honor them. Of course, their closest loved ones were present and if anyone had anything they wanted to add, they could. Then, we’d set the bodies aflame, bury their ashes in the ground, and then eat a feast. That would be our repast. Normally, the feast would be the corpses of our enemy, but considering our enemy was still alive and would probably want a ceremony to honor his own dead, that was out of the question. So, catering it was.
I decided now would be a great time to call Théoden and fill him in. He answered right away, which was expected, because he’d called me for a third time ten minutes ago. “I’m sorry I missed your earlier calls,” I said.
“Are you?” He snapped the question back like a slingshot.
“Hey, I’ve been busy here and I can’t talk for long.”
“What’s going on? Were you attacked?”
“Yes, over a hundred of my wolves were killed.”
“How are you still alive, did you defeat him?” Théoden asked.
“Well, thank you, Théoden, for your sincere condolences,” I remarked since he didn’t bother to give me any.
He sighed, catching the not so subtle hint I’d tossed at him. “I am sorry for your loss. Now, please clue me in on how you’re still alive.”
Well, I guessed that was the best one could get from a vampire. They didn’t have strong family bonds like packs did. At least, not outside of those they’ve sired. I’d bet he could lose a thousand vampires and only be pissed that his army shrunk. Probably didn’t even know their names and faces. Not so with packs. Anyway, I decided to let it go and answer his fucking question.
“I didn’t defeat him. Turns out, my second in command is his mate. That’s the only thing that saved me.”
“Are you shitting me?” he asked, and if I wasn’t mistaken, I could hear some concern in his tone.
“I’ve never shitted you. I’m being watched by about two hundred of his wolves and dragons. That’s why I couldn’t contact you earlier. I’ll let you know what’s going on when he gets back.”
“‘Gets back?’ Where is he going now? Is he coming here?”
“No. I told him that you and I have an alliance. Hopefully, that will stay his hand.” I was hoping by telling Théoden I put our alliance in the mix, it would buy me some brownie points. Fact was, Elijah and I did tell Kendrick about our alliance, but I was waiting to see who beats whom. Either way, I want to keep my alliance with the victor.
“So, then, where is he going?”
“Evander, to take out the dragon King.”
“Shit.”
“Listen, I’ve got to go,” I said in a rush, then I hung up without giving Théoden a chance to ask me anything else. I wanted him to think I’d really snuck away to make the call. I was sure Kendrick didn’t give a shit who knew about his plans at this point. If he did, he’d never have let Darla live to warn us. He must have really thought he had a chance of defeating everyone. Didn’t matter to me, I’d still be standing when all was said and done, and that was what was important.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Kendrick
I’d changed my mind, once I killed Evander, Celestial Gardens was where I was going to fucking live. The entire place was a paradise. No wonder everywhere I looked, I saw people out and about. Many were free to fuck in the streets, even if they weren’t fucking dragons. There was a sense of freedom here that was electric in the air. We did catch plenty of attention as we drove through the streets, all eyes on my caravan. I watched as dragons took to the skies. No doubt, to warn their King.
Considering I was in dragon territory, it was best that I didn’t wage a full-on war. Just like when I challenged Ta’Zar, it was just him and me. Most challenges went this way when it came to dragons. But still, I brought my army just in case things didn’t go smoothly. You never knew and being prepared was how I’d survived this long.
I was sure Deacon had told Théoden about what happened, since he was so keen on preserving their alliance. And if Théoden wanted to keep his alliance with Evander, I was certain he’d given him the heads up. With each check point I passed, apparently, another dragon took to the skies heading southeast. I supposed they were going to his home. It took us another forty minutes to finally arrive at the very special, and might I say, extremely lavish estate where the King resided. I knew this was the place because I could feel his aura and it was powerful! Not to mention, the placed resembled a fucking castle, the only thing it was missing was a moat and drawbridge. The gate was open, which one could only assume it meant he was expecting me. The land was lush with trees, beautiful flowers of vibrant colors, marble statues, and fountains. There was even a small pond that had several marble benches surrounding it.
As I drew closer, I did feel apprehension, but there was no turning back now. Evander was a full-blooded dragon King, and I had to use all of my cunning if I hoped to defeat him. If I died, though, at least I went out fighting for a better life for me and my army. However, death wasn’t anything I was counting on, at least, not for me, but I’d be a fool to be so arrogant as to think it couldn’t happen. Too much bravado was when you made mistakes. I’d just found my mate and was planning on sticking my cock inside his tight and probably hairy hole and claiming what was mine.
We crowded his estate with our automobiles and all climbed out. Giancarlo was at my side, ever loyal. He was also the strongest of all my dragons and at over twenty-one hundred years old, he could hold his own if shit kicked off.
“Do you want me to make your announcement for the challenge, my King?” Giancarlo asked me.
I nodded as I walked up to the white front door with gold trim like I already owned the place. When challenging a King, one couldn’t be a pussy. I had to display the right amount of confidence.
When we got to the door, a dragon opened it, then blocked our path. “What business do you have here, intruder?” he asked.
Like all dragons, he was beautiful and something I’d want to keep around to lick my balls while another pretty boy sucked my cock. Hmmm, maybe I’d let him lick my balls while my mate plunges away at his asshole. That’d be hot. Whoa, I was already envisioning a life with Elliot. It was so crazy how things were. One minute, I was trying to kill his pack and the next, they were under my protection. All because of a twist of fate. In any case, I had to deal with this matter at hand.
“Step aside, young one. This is dragon King and Alpha Kendrick Sahr and he has traveled quite the distance to challenge your King,
Evander,” Giancarlo said, giving official announcement.
The young dragon looked us both up and down, then his gaze really settled on me. “He’s a half-breed.”
“That makes me twice the man to take on your King,” I said. “Now, step aside or I’ll go through you.”
“King Evander was expecting you, sooner or later. He has asked me to escort you to the challenge arena,” the young dragon said.
“Then lead the way.” I gestured for him to do just that. I could feel my muscles tensing and had to fight to maintain my calm. Dragons could sense fear, not as keenly as wolves or vampires, but they could definitely sense it.
I followed the dragon with Giancarlo by my side as we walked through Evander’s huge manor. It was pure splendor and made my home back in Kansas look like a piece of shit. Of course, I’d inherited several fortunes from those I’d killed. Something told me I’d be in the billions when I took Evander out. Marble flooring with solid gold lacing adorned the hallways and probably every room. Expensive hand-made furnishings and artwork were placed beautifully in every area I managed to catch a glimpse of. There was just enough luxury to not be garish. Evander had exquisite taste, I’d give him that.
We came to a set of engraved double doors that featured two dragons facing each other on the doors. They parted once the doors were opened and when I walked inside, I had to tighten my jaw so my mouth didn’t drop open. The ceilings were the highest I’ve ever seen, arching greatly into a large dome. The room itself was enormous and I was beginning to understand why this was called the challenge arena. It was big enough for two dragon Kings to fight in their full dragon forms.
I had to make sure that didn’t happen. I couldn’t turn into a full dragon and if Evander did, it would become much more difficult for me to kill him, his scales alone would cover his entire body. Looking for a weakness while trying to defend myself would be quite the challenge, no pun intended. After giving the room my inspection, my gaze settled on the King himself, who was sitting on a large golden throne with two dragon Knights by his side dressed in full regalia. Their clothing was royal blue and gold, the colors of their King with his emblem embroidered on the front of their shirts and along the sides of their leather pants in gold.
There were other dragons in the room, all standing in close proximity to the King. Off to the side were those I was sure made up his council and the other side made up of the rest of his Knights. I counted ten Knights and four council members. This King was an old one and this army was also ancient to have such an administration. How old, I wasn’t sure. Ta’Zar’s army had a small council of five, which was entirely made up of his highest ranked Knights. Evander’s set up was something totally different. To say that I was a little bit intimidated would be an understatement. I was also hella impressed. This was what I wanted for myself.
I looked at the King again and had to admit the motherfucker was gorgeous as all fuck. Just his presence alone would have made me want to kneel at his feet had I not been a King and Alpha. He had the eyes of a true King born for the position. One silver eye and one emerald. I was also born to be King, hence the old silver color of both my eyes. I squared my shoulders and stood my ground and didn’t let the weight of his stare rattle my resolve. His face was unreadable as he looked me over, then he languidly motioned for his Knight to speak on his behalf.
The Knight, another beauty and one that was very old and powerful, locked his brown eyes with mine. “Evander Ahmet, Dragon King of the Celestial Gardens, accepts your challenge to the death.”
At that point, Evander rose from his throne. He stood a bit over six feet, I was taller by about an inch. He began removing all of his gold jewelry, the bands on his biceps and wrists as well as his necklaces and rings. The two through his nipples, I was sad to see removed, but he was smart. I would have ripped them out given the opportunity. Once prepared, he began walking toward me and I took a deep breath and started toward him.
I flexed my fingers, letting my claws grow. I knew I couldn’t match him in strength or speed for speed. I had to be sneaky and rely on my venom. I let my canines come out and he snarled, his own teeth lengthen and sharpening…all of them, giving his snarl a monstrous appearance. Once we were a few inches apart, I threw the first punch and he allowed it to make contact, not even attempting to block. I felt the impact ricochet through my arm, yet it barely registered with him. I groaned from the pain and my mouth parted in my amazement at just how ineffective my blow was. When he saw the shocked expression on my face, he winked and backhanded me, sending me soaring through the room. I crashed hard, landing painfully on the marble floor, cracking it. My entire insides rattled and I felt a wave of dizziness overcome me. I shook my head to clear my vision and get back into the game.
“You thought you could take on a real dragon King? Let me show you what it means to be a true King,” Evander said. And he began to transform, which was what I didn’t want. But it was my first time seeing it. When I killed Ta’Zar, he’d only partially transformed, Evander was going full dragon.
I watched in sheer awe as his body morphed from human into something beyond words. His body grew ten times its size, his skin hardening along with his scales, which now covered every inch of him. His legs transformed, muscles thickening in order to support his weight. His mouth elongated, as did his neck and claws both front and back. Huge, powerful wings grew from his shoulder blades and he expanded them. The span of each wing had to be over fifty feet wide and the arches of each wing bore a sharp claw. He was now towering over me, dwarfing me in size, and when he slammed his foot down, the ground shook and I struggled to keep my balance. The marble cracked as if an earthquake had struck it from the point of impact to the far end of the wall.
Giancarlo ran to me. “My King, take this!” He thrust a dagger into my hand. I was so captivated watching Evander’s transformation, I could barely register what he was saying. “Kendrick!” he shouted, and that drew my attention, as he’d never been so informal with me before. He closed my fingers over the handle of the dagger. “Use this!”
I looked down at the dagger and managed to see it was his silver weapon, intricate and deadly, more so than any other dagger out there. I didn’t have long to get my bearings when Evander whipped his tail at me, knocking me into the far wall where my body hit with such force, I felt several ribs fracture, which only proved how powerful the attack was. It took a hell of a lot to fracture my bones. The wall itself splintered in a spider’s web pattern from the impact. I was literally afraid at this point, my heart pounding inside my chest like a piston. How was I going to get close enough to him to find a weakness? Not to mention, I’d been so captivated by Evander’s transformation, I had failed to transform into my strongest form and I was now more vulnerable because of it.
Again, Evander whipped his tail, but this time I was able to dodge it. I flipped over it and landed closer to him. I advanced, wanting to close the distance. The farther I was away from him, the harder it was going to be for me to defeat him. I ducked as he swiped at me with one of his huge, clawed hands. I rolled out of the way of his backhand, but he whipped his tail, catching me again and sending me sliding across the floor into another wall. Blood poured from a cut on my head as well as my lip and nose. I was healing, which was the only good thing.
All of the other dragons present remained quiet as they watched us. They could not interfere once a one-on-one challenge was issued and accepted. Well, apart from giving one of us a weapon as Giancarlo had, but he couldn’t help me fight. I stood up because Evander was coming at me fast. He roared, and the ferocious sound echoed off the walls and ceiling, disorienting me. My eardrums vibrated from the sound to a painful degree. I didn’t risk lowering my guard to cover my ears and I felt the blood trickling down my lobes. My head throbbed in agony, but I struggled to remain focused. I flew into the air high above him, which meant I was nearly at the top of the arched dome.
I swooped and dipped in the air, avoiding more of his slashes with his tail
and claws. He was fast as hell and it was by sheer luck that I was surviving this long. I searched for an opening; if I could just get underneath one of his scales, I could make my move. I flew towards him, my dagger at the ready. He turned and I saw a row of his scales lift with the movement and I aimed my dagger, but he shifted right before I made contact and the tip of my blade struck one of his armored scales instead.
I grabbed onto his back, holding on for dear life as I stabbed away at his scales, hoping to eventually land a lethal blow. That was when I felt it; blinding pain paralyzed me and I looked down to see the tip of his tail protruding through my abdomen. Blood and my entrails oozed from the wound and when he slung me, I was too stunned to get up after I slammed into the wall again. I struggled to stuff my intestines back inside so I could heal faster. My own blood flowed from the wound, soaking my clothes and flooding the floor. God, was this the end of me? Evander was relentless and he was on me again. I tried to crawl away, but I wasn’t quick enough.
I screamed as I felt his sharp teeth puncture my body. I was now in the clutches of his jaws. I pushed against his gums, my hand sliding between two of his large teeth, and used all of my strength to keep his jaws from clamping down and cutting me in half. In my peripheral, I saw his silver eye staring at me and it was large, with the black pupil slit. Yes, he was a true dragon King. This was my last chance. I still clung to the dagger and now that I was near his soft tissue, I could make my move. I stabbed his tongue with the dagger, then pushed the button on the handle to release the werewolf venom stored in the secret vial hidden in the encasement of the handle. The venom flowed through a tiny tube in the blade and injected right into Evander’s blood stream.
I knew I was successful when I felt the pressure of his bite loosen and he went slack altogether. I fell from his mouth, falling all the way to the floor. My head hit the marble and bounced before I saw stars in front my eyes. The room tilted, then righted itself. Giancarlo was by my side, helping to put my intestines back into my gut. I was too weak to move and would need to heal before I could even sit up. I looked over to see Evander stumbling and flailing about. His tail whipped this way and that, causing the other dragons to move out of the way.
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