Fangs, Flames, and Allure_A Reverse Harem Romance

by Zara Zenia

  “Hiding from what?” I quiz and give her a befuddled glance.

  “Michael?” Katie appears alarmed.

  “I’m no longer hiding,” I tell her. “I am the ruler, and I am in charge.”

  Katie’s eyes flash with respect. “You are the true king, a born leader.”

  “Thanks to you,” I tell her as we walk inside the palace together.

  When we get inside, we are greeted by palace staff, advisors and the high priestess. She adorns a spectacle of elaborate and flashy jewelry. Her hair is pulled up in a magnificent braid piled delicately on top of her head. She bows before me with a pearly white smile.

  “Greetings, King Brent,” she honors.

  I glance around, absorbing my surroundings, my home. “It’s great to be back,” I say and exhale with contentment. “I am glad you are here,” I mention.

  “Oh?” The High Priestess raises her eyebrow with surprise.

  “Yes,” I nod with enthusiasm. “There is much to do.” My voice bellows through the enormous grand foyer. “We have a wedding to prepare.”

  I notice as Katie blushes beside me. “My bride is waiting.”

  The High Priestess glances at Katie and her face collapses with disapproval that I do my best to ignore.

  “The wedding party is four, with one bride.” I point to Carl, Ken and Roger. “We will all wed Katie in a glorious ceremony.”

  I watch as every member of my staff and counsel of advisor’s jaws drop with shock. “You can’t be serious—” The High Priestess protests. Her lips wrinkle in disgust as she eyes Katie up and down.

  “I’m very serious,” I thunder defiantly.

  “King Brent, perhaps you aren’t feeling well…” my military captain says as his olive complexion fades as the color drains from his face. He flusters and speaks again. “Maybe you should lie down from the long travel through space?” he suggests and nervously wrings his hands together.

  “What is wrong with all of you?” I ask. “You look at me as if you think I’ve gone insane.”

  Ken snickers behind me and I give him a curt look as if to mentally explain that this isn’t the time. I don’t care what anybody thinks of me anymore, or the affairs I engage in. I’m here to rule and govern my planet and I intend to keep everyone on it alive and well provided for.

  I turn to my short and stout housekeeper, Greta. I whisper in her ear because I know she is the only one who will support me, even if her features are frozen with shock. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, as if she’s uncertain of what to do or say.

  “You must help me prepare the ceremony,” I advise her.

  She peers up at me with her huge, green eyes and nods, albeit reluctantly.

  “You also must make an announcement,” I continue and cup my hand over her shoulder. Greta is shorter than most Ethwanian’s, but her lack of stature never seems to bother her much.

  “What kind of announcement?” she inquires anxiously.

  “Everyone in Ethwan shall attend the wedding ceremony.”

  Greta eyes Carl and Roger suspiciously.

  They rub the backs of their necks and shift their weight uncomfortably. I glance around. It is clear to me that everyone in my palace aside from Katie and Ken, absolutely loath vampires.

  “Do not disobey me,” I command each and every one of them with a firm gaze locked on them, daring anyone to argue.

  “Yes, sir.” Greta is the first to yield to my direct orders.

  The High Priestess interlocks her perfectly manicured fingers and nods. “As you wish,” she states with an air of humbleness.

  I glance at Katie who gives me a subtle, private wink that only I can see. I’ve passed my first test as King. I’m standing up for the declarations of my heart, and everything I believe in. Soon, I will vow the same to Katie in front of the entire planet to witness.

  Chapter Fifty-One

  Katie

  “Do you like the attention?” Brent asks me later as we are laying together, along with the others in the private king’s quarters.

  “I have to say,” I giggle. “It’s interesting being watched by the others.”

  “They will learn to admire you,” Brent says and strokes my cheek with adoration.

  “I thought you said that they were waiting on me to be their Queen?” I pout with a frown.

  “Give them time,” Ken interjects. “There are some that will take longer than others.”

  I sigh and lean back against the expensive, plush pillows that are like a cloud to my aching head. “Do you guys mind if I get some rest now? It’s been a long day,” I say with a sheepish chuckle.

  “Not at all.” Roger gently kisses my forehead and is the first one to stand up from the bed. “Maybe we can discuss details of the wedding for a while?” he asks Brent directly.

  “That sounds good.” Brent nods with professionalism.

  As the four of them walk away and turn off the light to leave me under a soft canopy of light from the moon, I finally feel the tranquility that I’ve been longing for, craving to experience for so long now. I’m where I’m supposed to be. I’m home.

  * * *

  The next morning, I’m strolling through the palace when I hear the unmistakable clank of high heels strutting against the marble floors. I turn around, engaging the curiosity of my mind. I’m met by a beautiful, ethereal Ethwanian woman in a gorgeous navy dress with beads of gold displayed across the bottom that swirls when she walks.

  “Hello,” she greets me with a soothing voice. “I’m Rebecca.”

  “Oh,” I chime as my face lights up with recognition. “You are Brent and Ken’s first cousin, right?”

  “I am indeed.” She gives me a warm smile as she takes my hand and shakes it gently in hers. Her olive skin is perfect and smooth as silk.

  “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”

  “Likewise,” I ring enthusiastically. “It is nice to see a welcoming and friendly face.”

  Rebecca swats the air dismissively and rolls her gorgeous green eyes. She bats her eyelashes that seem to go on for days. “Don’t pay attention to those who don’t support your efforts.” Then she leans in and whispers in my ear, “They are just jealous.”

  I blush upon receiving her praising compliments. “Thank you, that means a lot.”

  “Oh please,” Rebecca croons in a chatty, friendly voice. “I am just thankful to finally have some female company around the palace.”

  “Yeah,” I laugh. “Me too actually. I’ve been with Carl, Roger, Ken and Brent for days. They don’t want to talk about how I should wear my hair for the wedding or how my gown should look.”

  Rebecca’s laughter tinkles my soul like being enveloped in a warm blanket. She beams from ear to ear and I find her stunning and radiant in a simple and elegant way. Before long, her laughing becomes infectious and I chortle right along with her.

  “I can fill you in on all the juicy details on how the palace runs,” Rebecca admits.

  “Thank you,” I say and breathe a sigh of relief as we begin to stroll down the hallway side by side. “I am afraid there is so much for me to learn and I’ll never get it right.”

  Rebecca halts and gives me a confident gaze that’s full of wisdom. I am sure I have enormous amounts of information at my disposal that I can learn from her.

  “Do you mind teaching me the ropes?”

  “Of course,” Rebecca bellows enthusiastically. “You are a smart girl. Brent and Ken just love to rave about you.”

  “They do?” My heart races with love. My cheeks flush with the heat of feeling appreciated.

  “All the time.” Rebecca’s eyes twinkle with delight. “They think the world of you.”

  “Well, I love them too,” I say as we begin walking again, going outside to walk the palace gardens filled with an elaborate display of exotic looking cacti and other desert like plants.

  “You will get used to the temperature,” she reassures. “It takes some adapting but before long you won
’t even feel the heat anymore.”

  “I’ll be looking forward to that day,” I chuckle.

  “Everyone thought Brent ditched the kingdom,” Rebecca stated somberly.

  “Really?” I ask as surprise washes over me.

  “Not me though,” Rebecca shakes her head and puckers her lips with a sour expression. “I know Brent. He would never dash on his responsibilities.”

  “So, they just thought he fled, never to return?” I ask with amazement.

  “Some of them,” Rebecca sighs. “They thought he was running away from Michael.”

  “He is brave,” I say rebelliously, even though I know Rebecca is on our side.

  She squeezes my hand as we walk along. “I like you. You are one of the good ones. You’ll breathe new life into Brent and the rest of them.”

  “Thanks,” I say and smile.

  “My cousin would never leave forever,” she says to close out the conversation before we walk back inside the palace. “He’s far too loyal to those he loves.”

  Chapter Fifty-Two

  Carl

  “How do I look?” Roger beams as he does a little spin next to the mirror where he just spent several minutes staring proudly at his own reflection. He adjusts the jacket to his black suit.

  “Like you are going to be hot and die of heat stroke as soon as you step outside,” I chuckle. I’m only teasing him. He looks great, as do I. We are in the palace preparing for the royal wedding ceremony.

  “Are you nervous?” Roger asks as a flash of microscopic apprehension flickers through his expression.

  “Not really,” I shrug with nonchalance, an action to appease him, even though my belly has the occasional roll of anxiety about the future. “Remember, we are doing this to show unity between the vampires and the dragons.”

  “I know.” Roger glances down at his shiny black shoes and nods.

  “How are things going in here?” Brent walks through the entry way, looking breezy and significant like the King of Ethwan that he is. He is extremely tall and holds himself high, emotionally and physically.

  “We are ready.” I give him a confident smile. “We aren’t going to back out.”

  “Good.” Brent nods with approval. “You are the representatives for the vampires out there in the world. They will now look to you for guidance and a path, directions to take from here forward.”

  “We represent unity across the nations and the planets,” Roger states proudly.

  “Exactly.” Brent is smiling so wide that I think his lips might stretch to oblivion.

  “We are looking forward to the ceremony,” I admit.

  Brent eyes me with a mixture of surprise and delight. “You’ve come a long way, Carl,” he chuckles as he gives me a brotherly pat on the back, something up until these times has been rare or never seen before between the two species.

  Brent takes a deep breath and glances behind his shoulder as if he’s expecting someone to emerge from outside of the door. Then, he looks back to me and Roger and smiles. He has a trick up his sleeve or something.

  “I have someone that I’d like to introduce you to, before we go through with the ceremony. Just think of it as a guarantee and a pledge that I’m staying true to my word about your safety and livelihoods here on my planet.”

  “Okay…” Roger and I say and trail off in unison. My curiosity is piqued.

  “Wondan, can you come in here please?” Brent waves his hand, beckoning through the door.

  An enormous Ethwanian with olive skin tones just like Brent and Ken, but slightly less tall, walks into the room. “Hello,” he says in a raspy voice. He is older looking than Brent and Ken.

  “This is Wondan,” Brent introduces. “He is the lead scientist working on the declaration to fulfil and substantiate the lives of the vampires here on Ethwan.”

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Roger steps in first to shake the man’s hand.

  I give him a nod and a polite smile. “Hello.”

  Wondan claps his hands together. “I am currently working diligently around the clock to obtain a way to prolong life for the vampires and we are extremely close to achieving that remedy.” His eyes glow with green enthusiasm as he rocks back and forth proudly on his heels.

  “That’s wonderful,” I proclaim with an air of relief. “We are here for the long haul. That’s why we are agreeing to this unity ceremony. We want to save as many vampires as we can.”

  “You are very brave to come here and act as representative to those you love,” Wondan admits.

  “We just want to do the right thing. Katie is a huge attribute to changing our minds,” I admit.

  “Not changing your minds,” Brent corrects. “She made you see the light. She helped all of us see a different way to adhere to life and approach it with a negotiating frame of mind.”

  “Moving here might be the best step in the right direction that we’ve made so far,” I declare.

  “No.” Roger shakes his head in argument. He stares at me as our eyes lock with purposeful determination for each other. “The moment you sacrificed your life for me was the transitioning point. In my eyes, you’ve been a hero ever since.”

  He leans in to embrace me in the most affectionate hug I’d ever received in my entire, lonely life, from anyone.

  “Thank you,” I whisper as humble warmth swells around me. “Let’s lead the people to a new beginning.”

  “They are our people now, all of them.” Brent smiles as a reminder that the good we are doing for the planet will have substantial effects of positivity that will hopefully linger on for generations to come.

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Katie

  The guys look even more handsome than I could ever actually imagine. As I approach them, ready to start our new lives together, I can’t believe how far we have come as a unit that’s completely focused and driven by love.

  Each of them is staring at me with eyes glazing with passion and immense amount of adoration as I approach the altar where we will profess our love for one another and announce it to the world.

  The High Priestess begins her opening speech about the importance of unity and coming together as a planet while trying not to focus on the aspects and qualities of the vampires and the dragons that each other might not necessarily like.

  She starts talking about how Brent is a respectable leader and must be appreciated for all the efforts he is building as he attempts to shift the tides to new beginnings of tolerance.

  That’s when there is a loud boom and a crashing sound behind us. Instinctively, I spin around, startled as I struggle to ascertain the source of the loud chaos seemingly disrupting the ceremony.

  Michael barrels into the room. His eyes are red, glowing with exceptional spite and rage. His skin is as black as coal, completely different than that of Brent or Ken’s, or most of his family members.

  His skin is scaly as if he’s going to shift into a black dragon to breath a showering of fire on the entire crowd of onlookers, including us on the altar. I tense my muscles and prepare for certain death. I squeeze my eyes shut and hold my breath as I await to be turned into ashes in an instant.

  Only that doesn’t happen. Michael begins screaming at Brent and Ken, addressing the hate filled rampage directly to them.

  “Brent, you will defile the family name if you continue on with this wedding ceremony,” he pleads in a demanding voice that bellows and echo’s through the otherwise silent room.

  “I can, and I will.” Brent stares at Michael with a defiant expression on his face. He squares his shoulders and stands proudly as he squeezes my hand protectively in his enormous one.

  “Michael…” Ken states in a surprisingly tranquil tone. “Don’t do this. Just move on. Nobody has to get hurt today.”

  “You must not marry the human. You cannot propose a treaty with the vampires. They are evil. They are tricking you. All of this will be a sham once you pledge your unity. You will sorely regret your decision and will have to pa
y the price for your mistakes for the rest of your life.” Michael is frantic as he elaborately explains all the reasons he thinks that we should not continue the ceremony.

  I just stare at the men as they argue and bicker back and forth. I’m careful to maintain my silence for now. If I need to interject, I know that my mind and heart will tell me when it’s the right time.

  “Give me one good reason to cancel it,” Brent counters as an amused grin flickers at the corners of his lips.

  “I just gave you plenty,” Michael shouts with frustration.

  “A new world is immerging, and we are going to be the founding ones to see it into action. There is no room for hate or intolerance any longer on the planet of Ethwan.”

  Brent’s assertive voice surges me with confidence that ripples through my bones. I’m extremely proud to stand by his side as a representative for my new home and planet.

  “Vampires have never been welcomed here,” Michael continues to protest. “What you are doing is treason against the entire kingdom of Ethwan.”

  A few people in the audience gasp. Others stand up and walk out. Some hold their ground and their allegiance to Brent by remaining rooted to their seats. Some are too curious to do anything other than gawk at the arguing dragon shifters.

  “Stop, please.” I hold my hands out in a gesture of peace as the words explode from my tongue, flowing like a natural gift. “This wedding is extremely important and will be the start to a new focus on Ethwan. One where no one has to live afraid of the future or worried for whether they will have to be a slave, or their lives will be spared.”

  All eyes are on me. It’s my time to shine. “Vampires and dragons will be united. It’s a promise and a vow that we are making, simply by being up on this altar and pledging to be the representatives for the safety of everyone who lives here.”

  “The traitors will stop the trafficking and peace will form once again, we promise that too,” Brent adds as his voice shakes the room with passion.