Chapter 141

"That is impossible. I didn't take it tonight."

He smiled.

"Yes, and why is that?"

Wheels spun in her head as she searched for an excuse that wouldn't seem suspicious.

"It tastes nasty."

When he laughed, relief washed over her. For a second there, she had been terrified that he knew about the poison.

It was stupid though. If he knew, she certainly wouldn't be here right now. He would have thrown her into the dungeon instead of making her his Queen and putting his people into the hands of danger.

"Finally, something we both agree on."

Silence settled between them, till reality dawned on her and she broke it.

"I want you to stop killing my people, Valerick."

"Not this, not now." He shook his head. "Please, let me have this. It feels so good."

Before he took her against the statue was the perfect time, but she had been too weak then. She couldn't foolishly bask in something that wasn't real, and relish in something that wasn't right without a just cause.

"You didn't need the month break again to start with the New Turning Process. How many of my people are dead, as we speak, from the new experiment?"

His frown deepened, and tension settled between them.

"We have discussed this. I have no other choice. We need the army, or many more would die. Don't you understand that? Your people will not be so protected if I'm overthrown. Not many will tolerate the werewolves as I do, having you as my mate makes me more lenient."

She blinked.

He was right, that was something she had thought about but she couldn't help but think there was a better way around this than just killing them to make an army of vampires out of them.

"I understand."

He hummed, clicking his claw against one of the pearls that beautified her hair. It wasn't as perfect as it had been before their tango though.

"But?"

Zezi had always wanted revenge, she had wanted to kill him, wanted to kill as many vampires as she could, but right now, revenge felt like a short-sighted plan. If she killed him, another would come up, maybe a vampire even worse. But if she got freedom for her people and found a way to level the ground, there would be peace at the price of foregoing revenge.

It was a practical plan.

"What if there was another way? How about you give us weapons that can actually do damage, so our attacks will be up to the standard you desire? I'll join your army--"

"Zezi---"

"We are strong as we are. If the weapons are not available, let us run some tests on some of your kind. We have the best scientists, we will come up with something---"

"That can kill us?" He scoffed. "You want me to put the death of my kind in the hands of your people?"

His voice was curt, stoic like he had been the first she discovered this experiment. He spoke like a King who was feared and less like her mate who wanted her to stop fighting him.

"We will have another agreement." Words tumbled out of her mouth. It suddenly felt like she was before a panel, defending a lost cause. "We will be equals and there will be no need to fight each other."

"Equals?" Something sparked in his eyes, something she had only seen a long time ago when he had called her "adopted pup" and her "not real mate" unworthy. When he had told her he couldn't comprehend how someone could love what wasn't theirs.

Maybe "equals" was a big jump?

"Not totally, maybe?"

"And that sounds so much better." His words were laced with sarcasm.

"Maybe have another discussion with your people, a meeting with the Governors and the Lords, give me a chance to talk to them."

"Because their reception of you this evening was very warm."

"Let me try, maybe if we discuss, we can all reach an agreement---"

He stood up and she stood up after him.

"Valerick, please."

"Discuss with them the potential of putting them all at a risk." He arched her a questioning eyebrow. "Let me see, how would the discussion go?" He gesticulated. "Governors and Lords of Lavida, shall I give the "Fur Creatures" something they may kill us with, and let us work on a unity that is not guaranteed, when our army is dwindling and we are most vulnerable to attacks. How do you like me for a King?"

Hurt shadowed in her eyes. Valerick had never referred to her as a Fur Creature and she knew that he was only doing that so she could realize she had no chance of convincing the others.

She wasn't supposed to feel this way, his words were not supposed to mean anything.

He knelt before her, brushing her hair back with his hands, holding her gaze.

"There is no equality in hatred, Zezi, there is only war and power. We share a bond and that is different, a flimsy agreement guarantees nothing. Arming the Kind hat seeks vengeance against us with weapons that could kill us, is unwise."

"My people are very loyal, we will honour our agreement," she searched her brain quickly for anything that could help her kind right now. "We'll make Bloodoaths---"

"Zezi, turning is of great importance. If this works, I am their Sire and they obey me. It is very hard for Early Turneds to go against their sire. That control is powerful more than anything else, even a Bloodoath. This is what Lavida needs, and I will give it to them. I will not torture you by asking you to do this with me."

There was a knock at that moment and Valerick had gone to attend to the vampire at the door. Nicholas's words flitter through the door, Zezi wasn't supposed to hear them, but one of her perks now was this impeccable hearing.

Nicholas had brought news.

Lord Rosil was about to leave, she planned on going back to the Right Province tomorrow.

The one that concerned her most was the next news.

There were reports about the new experiments, some of the test subjects have died, but one has survived to the final round. They had brought that one for the King to review. If he was satisfied with the results, the Turning would begin full scale.

Valerick had gone back to the hall to tell Zezi that he would see her soon and he needed to go right now, the bond between them felt strained and hurtful. When he clicked the door shut, and left, she begged through their link for him to reconsider but she got no answer.

She continued begging, till Gwen arrived, silently gave her dress to her, and left. She still begged, till it felt like he had shut down his side of his bond.

Only then, did she stop.

That was alright. It was foolish of her to think this would end differently anyway.

Foolish for her to think there was another way this could end without his death.