The Alpha King's Claim novel Chapter 24

The Alpha King’s Claim chapter 24 by desirenovel

Serena

On cue, the crowd parted, giving me a clear path as I walked towards Blondie, the first person I wanted to converse. Behind me, I could feel the eyes of the women; could feel the tension among those who still saw me as competition and admiration to those who saw me as their savior.

But to be honest, I didn’t have a strategy yet, one that would successfully take a quarter of these women out from Lord Hale’s possession. Maybe I was giving them false hope since basically, I’d be doomed too two days from now, but it was better than sulking and submitting to this precarious fate.

Blondie smiled at me when I reached her. I smiled back and extended my hand.

“We haven’t been properly introduced yet. I’m Serena McAllister,” I stated, waiting for her to reply.

She took my hand and shook it. “Rhea Thompson. I’m glad to see you here.”

“So do I,” I expressed with a wider smile.

I turned to face the crowd and saw that they had dispersed already; some had gone to a nearby hallway leading to their quarters probably and some had grouped outside the interconnected balconies of the foyer. The black-haired bitch earlier was nowhere in sight. Good riddance to her.

“Sofia gave you dead glares before she left,” Rhea informed, giving me a lopsided grin.

“Sofia?” I lifted a brow.

“That busty woman earlier who made an enemy out of you already,” she explained whilst crossing her arms over her chest. Dressed in a Venus-cut white satin gown, she almost looked like a goddess. She had a unique beauty to her, the kind where she didn’t need make-up but still, she’d stood out.

“Oh her…” I chuckled and continued to watch the giggling women in one of the balconies.

“When we arrived as a new addition to their master’s harem, she was quick to express her leadership,” Rhea continued. “Maybe that’s the reason why she had an instant dislike to you because you’re a queen.”

“Women like her should just be ignored,” I remarked. “I don’t want to waste my time stooping to her filthy level.”

She laughed briefly, taking delight on what I said. “I couldn’t agree more.”

There was something about Rhea that I instantly had a connection to. Something warm and fuzzy. A soul sister — maybe that’s the right word to define her.

“So, what’s our escape plan? You got an army on the way here to rescue you and hopefully, the rest of us?”

Urghh… How I wish that was the case.

Her words reminded me of King Aero who for sure didn’t even know I am in the vampire realm, or if he did, wouldn’t bother his time rescuing me. The prick…

“I ah…am working on it,” I scrambled to say, “and hopefully it wouldn’t involve bloodshed or us being dead.”

“Hmm, I’m counting on it, Your Highness,” she stated with a grin.

“Please, just Serena. That title is a mouthful,” I cringed.

“Sure, no problem,” she nodded, then stepped forward to face me. “Do you want a grand tour inside a vampire’s harem?”

“Hmm, as long as there’s no blood on the floors then sure, I’d like to. Maybe then we could find an escape route.” I stepped forward too, feeling better now that I have a comrade in arms.

“That sounds good to me,” she stated and pointed to the first hallway on the left of the foyer. “Let’s start there.”

Not a surprise, I had fun spending time with Rhea. We were quick to discover our likes and dislikes and although it wasn’t all that similar, we still synced. I was enjoying myself thoroughly that I didn’t notice the time. The butler interrupted us sometime later and reminded me of my agreement with his master.

Rhea and I parted ways with the promise to meet again the following morning. After that, the butler guided me to my chamber which was actually two floors up from the Slave’s Wing. I made a mental note of each twist and turn, each hallway leading to a particular part of the castle. At times, I’d throw in a question or two. The butler, not suspicious at all, answered me with gusto.

“Please rest for a while, Your Highness. Come nightfall, the master would like to dine with you,” he stated when we reached my chamber.

I quickly shook my head right after I stepped inside my room. “Dining with him isn’t necessary, Sir,” I told him, thoughts of watching him sip the crimson liquid on a chalice wouldn’t sit well with my stomach.

“The Master insists and he doesn’t like to be rejected,” he answered with a warning tone, but he did this all whist lowering his head, still projecting subservience.

I huffed inside. Such typical vampire bossiness… “I’ll see him later then,” I told him.

The butler closed the door and left me alone to ponder on my actions and the pending dinner with Lord Hale. God help me, I really needed a miracle now.

“Hello?” I voiced out two hours after when I noticed a shadowy figure standing on the threshold of my walk-in closet. My balcony door was wide open despite closing it earlier. I instantly connected the dots.

Figures… I was in vampire territory. I should have known I’d be ambushed by others like Master Hale.

My heartbeat sped up.

“Sofia said I’d catch a queen here and she was right,” the figure stated, ultimately giving me an idea he was a man. He did mention Sofia’s name so yeah…I didn’t wonder any further. Bitches like her have an itch that needed to be scratched; an itch of jealousy and arrogance. I so wanted to put her in her rightful place.

“At first I didn’t believe her words, but when she innocently mentioned Phanteon, I was instantly tempted to see you,” he continued under the protection of the shadows.

From what I could gather, he was a six-footer, had broad shoulders and spiky hair.

“Who are you and what do you want from me?” I stated, slowly standing up from my bed dressed still on my turtleneck, backless gown.

“You are the Queen of Phanteon, are you not?” he asked, stepping out from the shadows.

Finally, I was able to put a face to the voice. Sofia was right to have picked a lackey. He had a goatee like that of Tony Stark, but instead of it screaming suave and heroic, this vampire here was letting off a dangerous vibe.

“Yes, I am,” I answered, lifting my chin up like that of a true born queen.

He chuckled weirdly. “Then I am in luck. My revenge will be sweet.”

“Revenge?” I echoed, now feeling the trembling of my hands.

“Your husband delivered a dead vampire in our realm decades ago. She was my betrothed. Our guardian, Kerus, said the king wasn’t involved in her death but you know what I think? I think he was covering him. That werewolf hated women. The fact that my fiancee was a vampire made it worse. He killed her, I know he did.”

I didn’t really want to believe anything from the mouth of this vampire, however, who was I to quickly dismiss him when I knew nothing of King Aero myself?

“You shouldn’t assume things over that basis,” I answered instead, choosing neutral words.

“Yeah?” he cocked an eyebrow. “Of course, you’d say that. He’s your husband.”

He started nearing me, stepping thrice, no doubt ready for whatever he had planned on me. I knew I was helpless when faced with a foe like a vampire, but I chose not to back down. Let me die trying if that’s what’s going to be.

“I’ll enjoy draining you and dumping your dead ass on the doorstep of your husband’s castle,” he snarled, still advancing.

I moved back, clenching my teeth. “You don’t want to do this,”

“Oh yeah? Why not?” he scoffed.

“Because Lord Hale will catch you and punish you,” I said confidently. God, I hope this was enough to thwart his plan.

“You’ll be long dead before he gets me,” he answered. “It’s a fair price. Plus, he couldn’t kill me. It’s against vampire law.”

Shit. I was trapped.

As I moved closer to my bedside table, I felt a lampshade made of porcelain. I decided to hold it, try and use it as a form of weapon.

Seeing this, he chuckled. “That’s pathetic.”

“I know,” I stated. “That’s why I’m doing this.”

With that, I threw the lampshade against the glass partition of my chamber and the balcony. Instantly, it broke and it broke loudly.

I hoped it was an enough noise to alert the butler, any resident living in this castle, or Lord Hale himself.

But as the shards of glass fell, I was hit on the cheeks. Blood quickly gushed out. The vampire lackey chuckled.

“You just made yourself even more delectable, Your Highness. I don’t care how bitter your werewolf blood is. I’m going to drink all that in the name of my dead fiancee.”

I didn’t think anymore. In the hopes of evading him just to buy time, I chose to run outside the balcony, passing the bits of glass barefooted.

I cringed when my skin did touch some shards. I felt the laceration on the soles of my feet. I felt the stickiness of the marbled floor. It was hard to continue running, but I knew I just had to.

“Stop wasting your blood, luna. Leave some for me!” I heard him say and the next thing I knew I was pushed forcefully down the floor, my forehead easily hitting solid ground leaving as a consequence, a fucking glorious headache.

It was all blurry after that. I heard a squeal of pain first and then saw my attacker being dragged away from me.

I felt a large hand touch my back and then a gentle touch of something soft and wet on my nape. It lingered for a few seconds until it was followed by something I could easily discern as a tongue despite my fuzzy state.

This man or woman was clearly licking me…or more like my blood. Further dread washed all over me, but unfortunately, this time, I couldn’t fight anymore. I was dragged to the bottom of darkness the moment my eyes snapped shut.