Page 31 of Hunt Me

“No, no. This is a welcoming banquet, King Alesi. Let’s stick to lighter topics. We’ll leave the heavier matters for later. I hear you challenged my beta for a woman. Is that correct?”

“That is accurate.”

“And not just any woman, a huntress. A little morbid, considering vampire hunters killed your queen, is it not? You would choose not only to lay with a huntress but make her your queen as well? Does Night Falls not have laws against this?”

“She will not be my queen. When I win, she’ll return with me to Night Falls and be escorted to the dungeons, where she will await execution for her failed assassination attempt on my life. I refuse to allow Beta David to have her, and she escapes punishment.”

Prince Lykaon slicked his tongue across his gleaming white teeth. He wasn’t buying Luka’s explanation, but he’d play along. He sipped from his goblet of wine before addressing the vampire again.

“I would wish you the best of luck, but my loyalty stays with my beta. You understand, right?”

“Perfectly.”

“Do you have any clues as to who would want you dead? Besides me, of course.”

He recognized the young prince’s attempt to provoke him, but he wouldn’t take the bait.

“Not yet. We haven’t had time to launch a full investigation, as the attack happened en route to Moonshire. But I’m confident I will have justice in the end.”

Prince Lykaon raised his goblet in the air in a distant toast. Luka returned the gesture and took a sip of blood. He choked and sputtered as soon as David and Matilda arrived. His strong reaction wasn’t because she was cozied up to him or laughing at whatever joke he told, but because she was wearing his necklace…

12

Dancing with the Devil

“My eyes must be deceiving me because that can’t be your necklace around that whore’s throat,” Lord Gustafson whispered near Luka’s ear.

“Your eyes are working perfectly.”

“You gave it to her? You might as well put a ring on her finger and a crown on her head.”

“I can assure you I didn’t give it to her. The little minx stole it,” Luka growled, clenching his chalice.

Ezra leaned in closer. “Say the word, and I’ll vanquish her.”

“Leave her and her childish games be. I’ll retrieve it from her later. I’m sure.”

“Hmph. I’m sure of it,” Ezra replied skeptically.

“Lord Gustafson, I have a unique mission for you while we’re in Moonshire.”

“You do?”

“I do. And only you can do it. Come closer.”

Ezra leaned further and waited for his instructions.

“Find a nice-looking man and get laid. Can you do that for me? Or will that be too difficult a task?”

Ezra cleared his throat before addressing his king. “I have never in my two centuries of living have wished ill on you until this very moment.”

“Is that right?” Luka asked, nearly chuckling from his advisor’s indignation.

“That’s correct. I wish you and the huntress nothing but the very best. I look forward to seeing your abominations running around the castle grounds being absolute terrors.”

“Aw. You should be nice to the abominations because, abomination or not, they will outrank you.”

Ezra couldn’t bother to hide his laugh. “She has poisoned you. You cannot deny it. I officially wave my white flag in defeat. Keep the huntress as your plaything, but you still must find a queen. The huntress cannot take the throne, or you’ll lose yours in the process.”