~ ROWAN

My insides twisted with unease after I hung up the phone.

No doubt Nyssa would be pissed, but I could handle her anger. What I couldn’t handle was the possibility of her getting hurt.

"The patrol guards say they’re getting closer," Jeremiah said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "The scouts have seen at least four people."

"Just four?" I asked and he nodded.

"There may be more, but they can only see for of them. I told them to keep an eye out. However, they want to know what to do. Do they allow them in?"

"Fuck no," I hissed, not even letting him finish. "We’re not risking the pack. I need everyone to be on high alert. The last thing I want is for them to get into the pack."

I got into the car, slamming the door shut as Jeremiah got in beside me.

His lips were pressed tightly and his brows were tightly narrowed. He kept his gaze fixed on the road in front of him but I could see the worry that ran through his eyes. It mirrored exactly how I felt.

Werewolves I could deal with. Lycans, I had dealt with, but vampires was a whole other ball game, and I wasn’t sure how the shit would play out. There wasn’t much on them in our history books, and unfortunately, I didn’t know much about how to kill them except the usual ways that worked: ripping off their heads and ripping out their hearts.

"Did you pack—"

"Yes," Jeremiah cut me off, gesturing to the trunk. "It’s in there."

By the time we got to the border, the air was thick with tension and the guards formed a protective circle around the exit. Their hands rested against their weapons and they barely glanced my way before turning back towards the woods... waiting.

"How far out are they?" I called out.

"A few minutes, your Majesty. They seem to be... taking their time," a guard observed, his voice laced with confusion.

"How many are there?"

"Still the same four from earlier. All males."

"Can you sight the king?"

"Negative, your majesty. They’re all dressed the same and they’re walking in a straight line. There’s no way to know."

"Hold your positions!" I yelled out. "Do not attack until I say so, understood?"

There was an echo of confirmation as everyone rushed over to their spots, bracing themselves.

I heard them before I saw them, and it wasn’t until the first person broke through the clearing that I realized I didn’t smell them.

As they showed themselves, I realized that they didn’t have a scent. I never smelled Allister when he stopped by, and I never smelled anything on Evelyn.

The second vampire walked through the woods, wearing the same long dark robe as the first. I watched him carefully, sizing him up and searching his body for weapons but he didn’t seem to have any.

When I saw the third, a stab of shock went through me.

"Don’t act surprised," my lycan hissed. "You knew."

I did know that Allister had close ties with the king, however, I did not expect to see him here. His expression was cold and neutral, and there was no sign of recognition in his eyes as he locked eyes with me.

He just turned away, drifting over the grass as if floating.

Upon seeing the last man, I knew he was the king. There was nothing different about his outfit, but it was clear in his eyes. There was a haunted look that came from living far longer than you should. I’d seen it in the older lycans, and I could see it clear as day in his eyes.

There was an air about him, something that reeked of danger and bloodshed.

"You’re a long way from your mountains," I said coldly, letting my eyes roam over them. "Why are you here?"

"We are here too—" one of the others began but I held up a hand to stop him.

"I think we can cut the games. I’m not speaking to one of your delegates. I will speak ruler to ruler, or we will not speak at all."

There was a long stretch of silence.

No one moved, no one even breathed. They looked between themselves with neutral expressions and after what felt like hours, Allister stepped forward.

"I will—"

"No," I cut him off firmly. "My instructions were clear. I will speak to only your king."

I knew for certain that Allister wasn’t the king. I had spoken to him personally, and he might be a good liar, but he wasn’t great. He spoke of the King as someone he feared, and I knew that wasn’t him.

"Well," the last vampire drawled. "I have to say, you are more observant than I give you credit for. It is a pleasure to finally meet the king of the wolves."

"I wish I could say the same to you. You have sent multiple of your people to my border. That can be seen as a breach of the treaty and an act of war."

His eyes flashed with amusement. "Would you believe me if I said that it was an accident? That they came of their own accord?"

"Do you have such little control over your subjects that they do as they please? You might consider putting a new king on the throne."

All humor in his eyes died and his lips thinned. "She is not here."

I kept my face impassive. "Which she? The one you compelled to kill herself? Or the child that she left behind?"

He sighed dramatically, folding his hands in front of him. "Neither. I am talking of my child, the one you took for your mate. She is the reason I am here. I wish to see her."

"My mate," I said, laying emphasis on the words, "will not be seeing you. You have no business with her. It would be in your best interests if you left right now. We have lived centuries in peace, let us not ruin that now." 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He chuckled darkly. "That peace was ruined the moment one of your subjects stole a child from my care. I have spent decades searching for her, and now, I will have her back.

"Your Majesty!" Jeremiah called out in my mind. "We have a problem."

"Can it wait? I am in the middle of something."

"No, sir, it is... it’s Nyssa."

The very mention of my mate had my blood running cold. "Is she alright? Did someone attack the house?"

"No, she’s here."