The Pure-Hearted Princess and the Kiss of Darkness

~ ENRIQUE ~

"What did you just say?" I ask, staring at Benigno, my eyes simmering with rage.

He bows low. "Mi Rey, it is as Antonio confirmed. We are sorry, but Hugo is nowhere to be found." "Keep looking, I want him found!" I snarl. 'Jose, send team out to find Hugo. I need the hijo de puta to be found and brought before me!' 'Understood. I will deploy a large number of warriors to make sure this is done,' he replies.

I punch the wall beside me, glaring at Benigno. "So how about you start from the fucking beginning? Why did you conspire against me? Why did Rhea play me as if I owed you something? Why did Hugo say the very fucking same? I am not like my father, but I assure you if you cross me, I will f*****g kill you," I snarl.

He bows low, placing his forehead on the ground. "I ask on the behalf of my guardsmen and myself for your forgiveness, oh mighty king. We only wished to protect you and your bloodline. Please understand, we did this for you. May I speak freely?" "Yeah, I want to know everything, and I don't want some shit polite reply. I want the full f*****g truth," I hiss. "But look me in the f*****g eye when you talk!"

He lifts his head and there is what looks like pain or regret? I'm not certain.

"Talk." I snarl.

"I will tell you everything, Mi Rey, but I will start with Rhea's sacrifice. For a guardsman to be hated by their master, is a t*****e far worse than a thousand years of being punished by the gods. We live and breathe to serve you. She did what we couldn't and took it upon herself to protect you and your beloved, for we foresaw that she is the only woman you would carry your bloodline forward with. If there is no Reina, the Rey Carmesí line would have ended with you, for you will never take another Reina."

I frown. "So, you knew that if I marked her, it would hurt her?"

"Far worse than it would have hurt Rhea, for you have already given her the Kiss of Darkness."

My stomach twists at just imagining myself doing worse to Kataleya than I already have.

"And how may I ask did you fucking know this shit? Wouldn't it have been easier to just tell me?" I ask, needing a f*****g smoke.

'Alondra, get me some smokes.' I order one of the guards as Benigno answers.

"We were given knowledge by our divine Goddess. You, Mi Rey, are different. I do not know all, but I swear on you that you are the king who has the very blood of the three goddesses running through your veins, more than any king before you have. "The three goddesses? This sounds like a fucking fairytale." I snarl.

"It is the truth, Mi Rey. You are special, known as El de ahora y para siempre Rey Carmesi. The blood of Goddess Hecate and the Shamed Goddess Circe is strongest within you, since Roja herself. Something that has made those who wish to bring down this very barrier want to destroy you. And you see, Mi Rey, you have a weakness. Your love for La Reina Asheton knows no bounds, and this is something that many wish to destroy. For if she falls, so do you."

I scoff, trying to squash the guilt, knowing that she's getting hurt not because of who she is but because of who I am. "She is not so weak that she will be destroyed so easily!" I growl venomously, looking away in anger.

"No, Mi Rey. But she, like you, lives for you. Neither of you can survive without the other and our enemy knows this," he continues.

"And how exactly would they fucking know that?" I ask, my eyes flashing.

He looks up at me, a glitter of curiosity in his eyes. "Mi Rey, how else? Just like us, the gods must choose a side. And just like our gods favour us, the gods of the other side are creating their army on this very earth too..." Well, fuck.

There was an assumption of that, so I can't say I'm really surprised, but hearing it just makes it all the more f*****g real.

"Right, so you are saying that Hecate herself guided you?" I ask, refusing to believe that.

"We are not worthy of speaking to the High Goddess, she simply blessed us with foresight, but it is the Demi-Goddess Roja who gave us this command."

"Hard to fucking believe. I don't actually believe shit that comes out of your fucking mouth. Not after the lies," I answer irritably.

I hear a chuckle behind me and turn to glare at the Solaris King, who now walks towards me.

"You remind me of someone." I glare at him and he simply continues. "It's sometimes hard to believe that you are chosen for great power. I've not seen too much of your power, but what I have seen is incredible. Someone who can command every witch to bend the knee... the very thought is terrifying."

Yeah, to fuck things up.

"Well, they banked on the wrong fucking person to hand so much power to. Oi, cabrón," I nudge Benigno with my shoe, making him look up.

"Yes, Mi Rey?"

"What about Hugo? Was he in on this shit too? Since he's the one who fed me the bullshit."

"I believe so, Mi Rey. But we have not spoken on the matter. Perhaps it was an order from Roja by some means.

He's telling the truth, even if I want to fucking pummel him for the deceit.

I look away, El de ahora y para siempre Rey Carmesí - The Now and Forever Crimson King...

"Right, and what about the Ash Stone? Do one of you have it?"

He frowns. "I'm afraid not. We do not know what it is. That is only something that you would know."

"

"But it's not fucking necessary since you cabrones should be obeying me anyway, right?" I growl. Yeah, I'm still pissed they fucking played me.

"It will grant you more power, to command even hybrid witches, to raise the dead as warriors to fight beneath you and to bless your people with the touch of fire."

"You mean make them into fire wolves." I state.

"Yes, Mi Rey. That is correct," he answers.

"Then here's a fucking command, don't ever hide shit from me again. And I mean fucking anything. Regardless of whether it is to protect me, do I make myself clear?" "Yes, Mi Rey."

I run my fingers through my hair, dismissing Benigno as I hear footsteps approaching to see Alondra coming with a packet of cigarettes and a lighter.

"Took you fucking long enough," I mutter, taking them from her and lighting one.

"Sorry, Alpha." She leaves quickly, as if scared of my wrath. I glance at Royce and offer him the cigarette packet, but he declines.

"No, thank you. Shouldn't you be at Kataleya's side?" he asks lightly.

"Don't f*****g tell me what to do." I counter. How do you face someone you fucking failed?

"Then do you plan to stay in the cells? It's rather morbid down here."

"Maybe for you pampered boys. For us Puerto Ricans, it's not so terrifying." I mock him.

He simply smirks. "Every exchange with you, Alpha Enrique, makes me want to have a sparring match with you," he remarks.

I stand up, smirking. He's about two inches taller than me, but I'm bigger in build. That might give him speed, but I'd like to test out exactly how strong he is... "Maybe someday I will take you up on that offer. I love to break bones." "Sounds fun. I'll await the day," he answers, not fazed by my answer.NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.

'Alpha, we have a powerful German fighter jet hovering over pack territory asking for permission to land. This thing looks... dangerous. I've never seen anything like it, Adolfo, Head of Security, says through the mind-link. Royce's phone beeps at that very moment, confirming my assumption.

It's theirs.

And that jet most likely belongs to Leo Herrmann Rossi...

'Let it land,' I command as I look at the time. They just made a fucking twelve-hour journey in under four... that's fucking impressive... Cabrones.