Chapter 2
Lilith
"What the fuck are you doing here?" I glared at her belligerently as magic began to flow into my hands.
"I'm bound to follow Morgan everywhere," she smirked. "Has it slipped from your mind that I am her assistant?"
I rolled my eyes. "I could care less," I said. "What did I warn you about stepping in my hunting space?"
She scoffed. "You think I'm scared of you?"
Scarlett laughed as she revealed a dagger strapped in her garter. She briskly swiped the blade across my cheek, drawing blood. I stepped away, gritting my teeth at the burning pain, and without warning grasped Scarlett's hair and hurled her at a tree.
"Get the fuck out of here!"
"Oh, Lilith," she beamed while rising from the ground. "You do deserve to die."
I sped toward her, catching her off guard as my hands tightened around her neck. My magic throttled her against the ground.
Scarlett screamed, struggling against my grip, but she was already overpowered.
"Enough!" a voice bellowed from behind.
I immediately released Scarlett, swiveling to discover Morgan standing there with a look of aspersion. She was the only witch who had control over me, considering she was far older than I. Scarlett was still lying on the ground, panting and clutching her neck. I knew without doubt that she was glaring hard at me.
"I need a rational explanation for the cause of this brawl," Morgan spoke with a degree of calmness.
"The heir to Blackheart went berserk and assaulted me," Scarlett scattered. "She disregarded the rules, mother. Once again she has proved incompetent to rule this coven."
I smirked as I slowly turned to Scarlett. Her motive was to provoke me so that I might react violently and receive punishment.
Morgan turned to me.
"She drew blood first," I said, flashing the open cut on my cheek.
Scarlett started to speak when Morgan beat her to it. "You were also ignorant of the rules, Scarlett. Both of you. One more tantrum, and you two will be punished in front of everyone."
I frowned.
"Now leave."
I started to walk away when she called, "Wait."
She turned to Scarlett. "When you return home, you will provide your sister with a name and a backstory suitable for her mission. You will not vandalize her again with your rapacious desire for the throne. Am I understood?"
"Yes, mother." She stiffly bowed and walked away.
Sparing one glance at Morgan, I turned and followed Scarlett toward our horses.
We rode in silence until we reached the coven's inn. When we went inside, Scarlett waved for a server to approach and ordered a cup of wine, then, with an irritating glare, crossed her legs.
"Where do we begin?" she asked in a sardonic tone.
"Just get to the point."
The server appeared with two cups of wine, and as she left, Scarlett moved one of the cups to me while she drank from the other.
After a slow gulp, she lowered it. "We are fortunate to have dark witches around the hotel where the masquerade ball would be held. The hotel room key card of the Lycan Prince would be prepared. You'll be given a fake ID."
"Is that all?"
"Find every means to make sure you return with the head of the Lycan Prince."
"When I succeed, the throne will be mine," I smirked.
"That is if you succeed," she remarked.
"I will not fail." My hands clenched as I slowly stood up. "I will return with the heads of the prince and king. I will stun the coven."
"Don't do something that'll put you and the rest of the coven at risk," she warned.
Taking a step away, she grabbed my hand. "Leaving so soon?" she asked. "Sit down; let's have a sister moment since you'll be departing soon for a risky task."
I sat down. "I know what you think, Scarlett. You're celebrating this day expecting me to fail the task. But I'll prove you wrong. And be warned that once I usurp the throne, you're among the list of people to be murdered at my coronation."
As soon as my cup was empty of wine, I felt something. A sudden rush of dizziness swept me as the inn twisted around. My stomach clenched, bile slowly rising in my throat. I staggered, clutching my stomach as cold sweat swiftly broke on my forehead.
Falling to my knees, I groaned in pain as I wondered what was happening to me. I looked at Scarlett.
Her lips softly lifted upward.
"I am going to fucking kill you," I said, as realization kicked in.
"You're finished." Her voice was infused with sweetness. "It was so easy to add a dose of poison to your wine when you weren't looking. What do I always tell you?"
I spat blood.
"That a day will come when you would think you are safe and happy, and suddenly you'll find yourself dead because I will surely kill you," she drily chuckled.
I frowned. "Morgan would burn you for this."
"That's my only fear," she considered. "But it would be fun in watching you close in to death."
I spat more blood.
After a moment, she spoke, "I have the antidote with me. If you want it, you will have to beg. I want to see the heir of Blackheart beg and cry."
She gulped her wine, smiling as she revealed the antidote. It was the necklace around her neck. How foolish of me to have left myself vulnerable to Scarlett.
"Give that to me!"
"You'll have to come get it," she smirked, slowly backing toward the door.
Summoning all the strength I could gather, I attacked her. I throttled her, ripping the antidote from her neck.
...
Dressed in a long black gown and a white porcelain Venetian mask around my face, I tried to assimilate with the Lycans and Werewolves at the masquerade ball. I slowly lifted a glass of wine and took a sip. My attention was fixated on the crowd, scanning for the Prince and King.
The party was in full swing. Held in one of the most expensive hotels in Malraux, young Lycans and Werewolves of different races flocked the hall. It was favourable that I had done some research prior. I was aware of what time the Prince would arrive. I also knew the room he would spend the night in.
I saw the warriors dressed in black suits. They moved around the room, their dark glasses catching the chandelier. I saw Werewolves and Lycans dance with their dates. I saw enemies. I yearned to unleash my magic on them.
The long black gown concealed the dagger I planned to use to cut off the Prince's head after murdering him. I'd been devising what would occur tonight for days. I knew my plan would be successful. It had to be. I would rather not have Scarlett usurp the Blackheart coven.
Exploring the hall with my eyes, there were no words to describe how beautiful it was. Chandelier light, glowing an intense rainbow, filled the room with its brightness. The hall was sumptuous, and so were the people.
When the hall suddenly lapsed into silence, I turned to find a male descending the stairs. His physique was lean, and his eyes beneath the silver mask were sky blue. As he walked, one hand held a glass of wine, and the other was around a beautiful brunette. All I could see on those hands was blood—hands soaked in so much blood that no quantity of water could wash away the stain.
He approached the stage, smiling and waving at the cheering crowd.
Averting my gaze from him, I stared at the tall male behind him. In contrast to Tristan, King Maverick had the body of a man in his early thirties. But I knew his age was far from that. He was old—ancient and dangerous. It was why witches were afraid of him. This was also the reason Morgan didn't want me to attack him alone. But I was unmoved by his power. When I killed both males, I would make it slow. I would feed them their dicks and cause their blood to drown them.
I noticed Maverick's eyes beneath the black mask he wore, and they were the darkest shade of blue. Older Lycans had dark blue eyes, while werewolves' eyes were amber.
Maverick's dark, midnight hair was darker than night itself. Although he had an attractive body with full muscles and a dark aura, that wasn't the reason I stared at him with morbid fascination. It was for the stories I'd heard about him.
As the stories went, Maverick had been the late King's general and trusted male. But when the King died and the throne passed to his son, the young Prince, Tristan was no more than sixteen then, and because he loved the life of clubbing, fucking women, and doing everything teen Lycans relished, he knew he would have to forfeit that life when he became King. Not wanting to, he abdicated the throne to the general.
The council dissented and tried to claim the crown from Maverick. He killed and hung every council member on the wall as a warning to others. From that day, he has been feared by everyone.
He rarely hunted witches, but when he did, it was over. For all the stories, I was undeterred. I would kill both males tonight.
The urge intensified every time I looked at them. Finally, after they gave their speech to the crowd, they left the stage and started walking upstairs. I began to follow, eyes focused, when I suddenly bumped into someone. Wine glasses splintered into small fragments as they fell.
I could feel the people's eyes on me as I stared at my wine-soaked gown. My hands tightened into a fist. I was on the verge of ripping his throat when I swiftly restrained myself.
The server pulled out a white kerchief. "I'm sincerely sorry," he said.
"Excuse me," I said with a frown. "I'll be in the restroom."
"It's upstairs."
I walked upstairs, finding my way to the hallway. Up ahead, I caught Tristan discussing with two male Werewolves. He smiled, eyes darting around the area before he turned and began to walk ahead.
I started to trail after him when a brawny guard grabbed my arm. I frowned, feeling repulsed at his touch.
"Ms., are you lost?" the guard asked.
I gritted my teeth as I forced a small smile. "I… well, I ran into the server. You can clearly see what happened to me afterward."
His face was stoic. "If you are heading to the restroom, then you are going the wrong direction."
His cold expression slowly melted as he observed my body and neck closely. For a moment, I thought I had been caught. His hand loosened around me.
"But—"
"Are you Ms. Alexia Sterling?" he asked.
"What?"
"The young lady the King was expecting tonight."
"Yes," I swiftly replied. "Of course."
"I'll need to prove you are really Ms. Sterling before I take you to the King. Take your mask off, Ms."
Before I could rethink my decision, I grabbed his neck, nails digging into his skin as I landed a punch on his face. He fell unconscious instantly. Turning around, a smile curled at the realization that no one was watching. I walked quickly down the hallway. Upon reaching the last door, I took a quick glance around before turning the knob.
Swiping the door key card, I slowly walked in. I halted to look around, and when I found it empty, I began to wonder where the Prince had disappeared to. Before I could think of what to do, I was pinned against the wall by a half-naked tall male. I smirked at the face of King Maverick Malraux.