53. Epilogue Hunt

CHAPTER 53

Epilogue Hunt

ALARIC

Ice Dragon Chalet

Night of the Wolf, November 30, 2019

The local elite from surrounding clans have all gathered for the social event of the winter. A full string orchestra is playing in the foyer, and drinks are being passed to arriving guests. I stand on the balcony overlooking the festivities below in my full royal regalia. Tonight's wedding is two-fold. First, it's the Night of the Wolf, which is also Aurora's birthday. Second, we are luring all of the traitors to one location to completely clean the house.

Queen Katherine, my mother, moves gracefully through the crowd, greeting all of the dignitaries. My father, King Bane, his arrival is met with full fanfare. The king's eyes lock on mine as he motions toward the library to speak to me in private. Once inside, I lock the door and put music on to hide our voices.

Bane speaks first. "You know, Alaric, I disapprove of this marriage. Our benefactors will not be pleased with this move." I pour two bourbons and pass one to my father.

"I believe it to be a brilliant move. If indeed Aurora is the only heir to the Lycan throne, then marrying her secures us two provinces and three wolf packs. The smartest way to build an army is to conquer it—that's what you taught me." I slowly raise the bourbon to my lips and sip it. Bane starts to stroke his thick white beard, contemplating what I just said to him.

"Brilliant strategy, Alaric. You're a chip off the ‘ole block. Perhaps after she gives you an heir or two, we'll attempt to oust the Strigoi. Then we will have a true winter retreat." Bane briefly embraces Alaric before heading to the door. "Do you need me to walk your bride down the aisle?" Alaric smiles and sets his glass on the desk.

"No, Father, we have it all under control. I believe the bear, Dimitri, is escorting her down the aisle." I move to the full-length mirror in the corner of the library and adjust my medals and ribbons. "I'm just waiting for the steward to tell me it's time to take my place and get this show on the road."

"Very well, son. I'll do my kingly duty and walk in the procession with your mother. The only thing that wench did right was produce a strong son." Bane practically snarls the last part out. Gritting my teeth, I make sure my poker face is perfect; not a single indication of the rage that boils below the surface is given.

"Thank you, Father, for this boon. I'm sure the princess will produce strong sons for me. After all, there were no stronger Lycans than Anca and Vladimir." I smile at my father, watching his reaction closely. Bane looks back at me and smiles.

"Yes, they were the strongest of their kind. I'll make arrangements to introduce Vladimir to his daughter very soon. Rumor has it that her hair is white, and she is dragon-kin." Bane studies me, both of us posturing for each other.

"Rumors..." I pull out my phone and show my father an image of Aurora with long, black hair. "She's almost an exact replica of Anca; gods rest her soul." Bane takes my phone from me and sends the photo to himself. He scrolls through my pictures, but every single one shows Aurora with black hair.

"I wonder why rumors of a white Lycan would surface," Bane says as he hands me my phone back. "All the mates other than Vlad were castrated before Anca went into heat. Which reminds me, I have the herbs for you to make your mate obedient. Even if she's the last Marelup heir, we can't allow her to gain in power." I accept the satchel and tuck it into my inner coat pocket. My dragon is roaring, wanting to roast my father to ash for speaking about his mate in such a way.

I smirk as I refill my glass, attempting to remain calm. "You know how the peasants are. They need a savior to believe in." I laugh to myself, thinking about my mate rending the flesh from her enemies. "A white Lycan, how absurd. It's like saying your scales are Easter egg color." We both enjoy a hearty laugh before exiting the room.

~On the other side of the castle~

Aurora-

I stand before the mirror, my black wig pinned in place with a dainty tiara in the middle of my curls. Nicodeamus moves up behind me to look at us in the mirror.

"You look exactly like your mother with this wig on," Nicodeamus says softly as his fingers lightly touch the curls. Dimitri watches from the bench near the window.

" Da , except Aurora is a wee bit taller and has more muscle tone." Dimitri's tone is almost reverent as he compares Aurora to Anca.

"I still hate that Vladimir named you, though the name does fit you. You are a beacon of light and hope, with so many facets to who you are." Nicodeamus smiles at me and kisses my cheek before he moves away. Dominik comes walking into the suite with a scroll. Jayce follows closely behind, carrying a tray of food.

"Alaric sends food before the ceremony. He said to only eat this tonight because he's not sure if anyone will try to poison us," Dominik says calmly as Jayce sets the tray down. "I have the processional line up. Traditionally, we all wear hooded cloaks until we arrive at the pulpit. Once we're up there, the friar will instruct us to lower our hoods. Aurora is the only one not required to wear a hood." Dominik turns and starts passing out cloaks to everyone. I touch my own face as I look in the mirror. So this is what my mother looked like, I say softly to myself as I examine my features over.

"Let's get this over with. It's all bullshit anyway. It just sucks that this stunning dress is going to get ruined." I move around the room, adjusting the guys' cloaks and hoods to make sure their faces are completely covered.

I look down at the flair of the sleeves of my gown. Alaric made sure I would be able to shift my arms without destroying the gown. The sleeves are long enough that no one will see until it's too late when I do shift my arms. The gown itself has a sweetheart top, which purposely exposes Alaric's scale on my ample chest. For strategic purposes, I move several locks of black hair over Alaric's scale to hide it for now. Three handmaidens approach me, fastening the train into the back of my gown as well as the embroidered veil. I roll my eyes, absolutely hating being handled this much. The handmaidens finally leave, and I finally get to look at my family.

"Our forces outnumber those in attendance three to one, so I'm not overly concerned. I still want to move in formation. Jayce, you and Dom enter first, then Dad and I. Dimitri, you watch our backs." Nicodeamus and Dimitri start laughing at the same time. Aurora can't help but growl at them.

"I'm sorry, daughter, you set the procession the same way your mother did when she married Vladimir. We found it funny. It will cause flashbacks for those who were present for your mother's wedding." Aurora smiles, canines bared, and her eyes are the liquid mercury of her beast. "When did you gain the dragon slits in your eyes?" Nicodeamus says. Aurora moves back in front of the mirror to look at her eyes.

"Hmm, nice upgrade. I look really freaky now!" Purposely I do that maniacal Joker laugh as I look at the guys. At least I'm in a good mood, which means the bloodshed shouldn't start too early.

A knock sounds at the door and I go on high alert. That was a five-minute warning. Everyone settles down and double-checks their appearance. I have the most glorious last-second idea and pull out my favorite lip stain. Untwisting the top, I stare at the rich, deep-red color of the stain that I have chosen. Carefully I paint my full lips making sure to accentuate my perfectly pronounced cupids bow. As the stain dries, it takes on the appearance of dried blood, and I feel it's the most fitting color for tonight's festivities.

"Time to reign in blood, boys." I start humming the song Heathens by Twenty One Pilots. Oddly enough, my song choice is quite fitting as I start walking in the line-up's third position.

My group moves as a single unit down the hallway, passing Ellis and his bears. I maintain my resting bitch face as I move. My steps are silent and calculated; the only sound from me is the soft humming of my chosen song en route to the pulpit. My group arrives at the double doors of the throne room. The steward is waiting to receive word that it's time to send us in. It's so quiet that you can hear the opening prayer in the throne room. We hear three knocks, and the steward opens the double doors. It's show time , I say through the bond to those who can hear me just before our group enters, walking in time with the music.

Whispers erupt throughout the throne room. Most are commenting on how much I look like Anca or that the Lycan Queen still lives. King Bane is the most shocked at my appearance—the blood-red lipstick was apparently my mother's signature color.

Once we're at the pulpit, I gracefully curtsey to King Bane and Queen Katherine. Next, I turn to Alaric and lower my head submissively to him, playing the role I'm in perfectly. Alaric reaches out and places his hand under my chin, allowing me to raise my gaze.

King Bane's ego gets the better of him as he moves to inspect me. He grips my jaw tightly and examines my eyes and then my teeth like I'm some sort of broodmare. Bane quickly raises the right sleeve of my gown to reveal my royal brand. Bane raises my arm for the entire throne room to see.

"Aurora is Anca's heir!" Bane shouts to the gathered dignitaries. My mates can easily feel the aggravation through the bond.

Alaric does the only thing he knows to calm me and rubs my scale, acting like his shirt is bothering him. That thoughtful action soothes me, and I calm down, remaining in Bane's grip. "My son has chosen wisely for this political alliance. This bitch will birth powerful sons," Bane speaks with such detachment, it's unbelievable. It's getting harder for the guys to maintain their silence as the king practically bashes and degrades me in front of them. I flood the bond with how much I love them trying to ease their concern. Bane finally releases me into Alaric's hands, and I instantly calm down. Now, the friar raises his hands and begins the ceremony.

"Lords and Ladies, we have before us tonight, on the Night of the Wolf, two powerful bloodlines. Though it is a political marriage, we pray for their love to eventually grow. We ask the Elder Gods for strength and fertility. That Anca's heir produces strong sons, who will be able to ascend the Ice Dragon and Marelup Throne." The friar takes out a piece of red silk and lightly binds Alaric's and my hands together.

"This sash represents the blood that shall be shared between bloodlines when the first heir is born." Next, a silver sash is wrapped around our hands. "The silver represents the prince's dragon's sight. May he always see the best solutions in the future." The friar places his hand on top of mine and Alaric's hands. "If anyone present has any reason these two should not be bound, speak now or forever hold your peace." The friar looks around the hall at all the attendants. He didn't, however, look to his left at my witnesses.

The guys move as one and rip off their cloaks and flinging them aside. Before their cloaks hit the floor, I reach up and rip off my black wig; my long, snow-white hair cascades down my back. In an instant, Alaric and I shift our arms, so our gauntlets and talons are at the ready. Nicodeamus steps forward with Dimitri at his side.

"I am Nicodeamus, mate to Anca Marelup and the true Ice Dragon King!" My group and I stand at the ready for the battle ahead.