Poison Rose(Roses & Kings #1)

The tunnel was a very scary place, even with the candle it's still dark. Reyna begins to imagine some beast jumping out of the shadows to grab her. It made her move faster than before. It's a long tunnel with so many confusing routes but she sticks to the left. Reyna suspected it normally wasn't a very long tunnel, but it felt longer to her.

After a few minutes that felt longer, Reyna finally reached the end. There are two doors here as well. The left route has served Reyna well, it brought her to a door,two doors to be fair, even if she didn't know which door it was, or If she's in the right place or not.

So she decided she's just going to stick with it and see where it takes her. Her heart was beating faster, she grabbed the hard bronze knob and opened the door.

Instantly Reyna knew she was on the right path, this is the servant quarters. She took a right, climbed down a few stairs then she was there. In the dungeon.

The dungeon is the coldest place Reyna has ever been. If you take away the open space, Reyna didn't walk for a long, when she finally saw the cells.

She held the candle away from her, so she could see inside the cells as she moved along them. The first one was empty, the second one was too. Reyna startled and let out an embarrassing squeak, when she suddenly heard a low growl before she could reach the third cell.

She walked slowly in the direction she heard the sound. When she reached the middle cell before Reyna could shine the candle, instantly she knew that this was where they kept him. The sound seems to come from there.

The beast was sitting on the cold cobble stones floor, his back to the wall, his feet shackled. His hands are shackled too, to the long chains that drop from the stone ceiling. Reyna tried to see his face but the dungeon was too dark even with the candle, then she saw his green eyes glowing in the dark, eerily.

“What the hell happened to you?” He growled angrily.

“What do you mean?”

“Your face, who did this to you? I fucking want their names.”

Realization sets in, oh. He's talking about the bruises on her face, as if he….cares? Bullshit that. Why would he care? She was nothing, but food to him.

“It's nothing,where's the other beast?”

Reyna asked to distract him. He narrowed his glowing eyes but allowed the change of topic.

“Probably dead and ditched somewhere, you would know better.” He replied emotionless, aghast Reyna said.

“I wouldn't have asked if I had known, and isn't he your friend? Shouldn't you be more worried about him? But instead you sound like you don't really care.” He grinned baring those deadly fangs.

“How can you not know? You're the Princess, I'm sure you are being groomed and trained on how to skewer the beasts and all the other duties as the heir.” He replied.

“No, I'm not.” Reyna denied, she didn't deign to give him a detailed answer. He could think whatever he wanted. He smirks

“You're cute when angry. And I'm not judging, I admire strength,and about Javan I do care about him, if he dies it's definitely a loss. But he knows what he's getting into when he decides to come with me, I will mourn him, but we'll all die someday.”

“He's your friend right?” Reyna didn't know what it was she was searching for. Maybe she wants to understand a little bit about the beasts, know if they love, and care about their own, or they are just the way the books said they were. Mindless animals!

“I'm surprised you came kitten, I was beginning to wonder if I'd dreamt you up there, you didn't come to see the beast get tortured, why? don't tell me you're squeamish?”

He ignored her questions and asked. Reyna didn't reply, giving him a taste of his own medicine, instead she asked a question of her own again.

“Is it true?” Reyna's voice was soft, not more than a whisper.

“Is what true?” He more or less growled irritated, his glowing orbs glows brighter.

Reyna flinched but stood her ground. She's not the whimpering, trembling type of girl, but she's been doing that a lot lately and she hates it. Though something twisted deep below everytime he growls.

He's not going to hurt her, Reyna believes that. Not because he won't want to, she doesn't really know anything about him,but because she thinks he wants something more from her before he could actually kill her or not.

Also the freakish connection she felt to him, said he'd rather be hurt than hurt her, but how can she trust a magical connection that was suddenly sprang on her.

Reyna could see how tightly he's been chained. He won't be able to hurt her, the chain was especially made with pure silver for his kind.

“That you eat humans, tear into their chest and stomach to eat their hearts and other …”

He barked out a laugh that startled her, his laughter was so deep and husky it made Reyna tingly in certain places.

“Afraid that his loud laughter would bring the guardians down here, where she would be caught, and probably punished severely, Reyna took a step trying to quiet him down.

“Hush ...keep your voice down!” She whispered/yelled harsher than she intended. That was when he moved, the chain making a rattling sound with every movement.

The chain only allowed him a little movement, because he stopped only a few feet from the wall, not even half to the barred iron. Fortunately together the candle and the glow of his eyes lighten his hard handsome face. Or was handsome face.

Reyna gasped horrified at the bloody mess his handsome face has turned to, his nose is broken. His one eye is shut, and he's limping. Reyna knows what happened to him, while it's necessary, she didn't particularly like seeing anyone hurt, beast or no beast, and seeing him hurt right now she feels something tugged at her heart strings.

Casvan noticed how his mate's heartbeat doubled and how she looked shocked to see his face. It pleases him that she cares and that she feels the connection between them. He sent her a calming feeling from his side to assure her that he's okay.

Reyna closed her eyes and breathed in deep for a few seconds, then she opened them back again, calmed. She didn't say anything about his current situation. Instead listen to his answer. He looked at her questioningly. His head tilted, watching, trying to read and understand her. His mate.

His! Casvan wanted to pull her close and smell her hair, bury his nose in the silk mass and breathe her in. But it wasn't time yet.

“Oh Kitten, the answer's no we don't eat humans.”

He was amused, she was so innocent and clueless about his world he was sure. The sanctimonious bigots who are in charge had closed up their Queendom and in so doing they'd endangered the people here, women, children and the few human males.

They had no knowledge of the world outside or what's coming for them. Secluded in their ignorance and hatred they think they are safe here. Casvan felt anger that if he hadn't taken the initiative to come here after his foresight his mate might have been helpless against the real monsters.

“If not humans then what do you eat?”

Reyna took a step closer, her body pressed against the barred iron unknowingly needing him close.

Casvan closed his eyes, her voice was like a caress against his heated flesh. Reyna didn't know she was pressing against the barred iron until she felt the cold bite of iron,when she clutched it hard.

“We can eat all human foods. Most especially meat.” And when they changed into their animal spirit, they hunted for raw meat, deers, rabbits etc.

“So you are not going to eat me?” His eyes glows brighter, now, how does a beast answer this question? in a deep guttural voice he growled.

“Oh kitten, you are killing me. I very much want to you eat you bit by bit then suckle and lick you clean.”

Reyna trembled,then frowned. She didn't understand why his words didn't frighten her as much as she thought it would. She stepped back, confusion written on her face. Not entirely sure what he meant.

“You lied to me? You're going to kill then eat me, just like you killed the guards. What kind of a monster are you?”

Casvan chuckled lightly, it's the first time in a long time he'd find any amusement in anything. His mate's innocence pleases him as much as it baffles him. Casvan didn't think there were any innocent remaining in this world, not even the young ones.

The different wars between factions, and different species of supernaturals has left the world in a precarious situation where everyone is for themselves and people, both supernatural and human alike are capable of just about anything to survive.

Children have been known to lie, deceive and trick older, stronger and more experienced men to their demise.

All for a little gold,silver or food stuff. So to meet someone who wasn't tainted and affected by that world was a breath of fresh air in this chaotic violent world. His beautiful mate was resplendent.

“Oh kitten, you are so innocent, I can't wait to get my hands on you, so I can corrupt you, just the thought of my hands on you is making me hard.”

Reyna cheeks heated. Her mind replaying what she saw earlier, Sabrina and John. Only now it was she and him, the imagery came unbinding making her tremble and her heartbeat tripling. Reyna sucked in a shaking breath they were so off topic. He grinned. Reyna suspects he knows what he's doing to her.

“And your soldiers had it coming.He growled darkly.

“What do you mean?” Reyna was confused by that statement. He didn't answer, only stared at her with his head tilted deliberating whether or not he should answer the question. Killing them was not something he had counted on

“My warriors are fighting their violent nature, they wouldn't have killed them If they didn't shoot at us. Believe it or not, it's something I regret deeply. I should have foreseen this. We only came here to warn you of the danger coming to your door and to provide our protection in exchange for the chance to find our fated mates or chosen mates amongst you.”

Reyna shakes her head, he's wrong there's no way their guards started this, they were guardians. Fated mates? She would address that later, but first.

“What? I watched the tape, the guards were just scared, they were just trying to protect us, you frightened them, when you and the other beast appeared all of a sudden. What do you expect them to do when a threat is coming towards their Queendom?"

“Capture us then take us to their leader,that's what my warriors would have done in their place. But what do you know Princess? How could I expect you to understand? While you are sheltered, protected and fed lies, your people are burning down villages, and killing everything that's not human.”

He growled angrily, though he also looked sad. Reyna took a step back, angry that he's accusing their guards as murderers.

“Our guards don't kill anyone that doesn't deserve it. And if they did, it is to protect themselves, I won't believe your lies.”

“Believe whatever you will Princess, but your soldiers attack a village and kill a pack of werewolves, children included not less than three months ago, I witnessed it myself. Regrettably they also killed three of your own, but the damage you women did was too much.” he rub his face tiredly.

“I'm telling you, war is coming to your doorstep even now, they are tracking you, coming this way. Your queen would be a fool to turn my offer down, your soldiers would be the first to die in this senseless battle."

“Guardians! They are called guardians.”

Reyna snapped, irritated that he was calling them soldiers, or was it an entirely different reason that made her react this way? Maybe because there was an ounce of truth in his words. He didn't acknowledge what she said, instead he continued talking.

“Do you know how long your people have been attacking beasts holdings, stealing from them, and killing them. Fortunately or unfortunately there was no way for you to come to our Kingdom, without our permission or knowledge otherwise I wouldn't have guaranteed their safety.”

“It seems you did the same hiding away, I and the others have looked everywhere,and couldn't find even a trace of your Queendom. And all the while you all were hiding deep inside these mountains.” Reyna listens attentively, taking in all this new information she didn't know.

“What really happened days ago was an accident, we never wanted to hurt any of you. You women need us as much as we need you, even If you don't want to see that. As I said before we only came here to negotiate an alliance between our beasts and your people.”

What he was saying made so much sense, though Reyna refused to believe Marlenian women would be so heartless as to kill children just for being different.

“I don't believe a word from your mouth, beast! Our guardians are not monsters, they're only protecting us from you, you're the enemy. You force us to be your slaves, to bore your children, we don't want to be your pleasure mates or breeding mates, we're not slaves and definitely not cattles.”

“We are humans and we will fight you to the very end. If you think I'm going to believe my people have killed children then you're wrong, I will never believe that lie.”

“His eyes were blazing,he cocked his head, and growled low and deep. Instantly her body reacted, Reyna's breasts became fuller, her nipples beaded, and below her stomach she ached. Reyna was wet in just an instant, it was strange. He did something to me that first day. She thought.

"If we were as bad as you said, Princess. I would have you above me your legs wide open and with my cock fucking deep inside your pussy in less than a minute, and guess what? You wouldn't say no.

I bet you'd even scream and beg me for more. It's true we don't have women and we desperately need you.”

“And we'll take you. But we'd never force women to be our pleasure mates or to bear our children. We courted,seduced and claimed. We might be beasts but we are not monsters no matter what your so-called Queen tries to make you believe.”

He said, then dismissed her, and went back to sit in his previous place at the corner. Reyna didn't know what to think? She found it hard to believe him, but there are things he said that rang true to her ears, there are things she had seen during her rebellious nights when she roamed the castle at dead of nights, that thinking about it now makes Reyna want to believe him.

"Even If what you said is true, not that I believe you. Shouldn't It be our choice If we want to be with you? You just think you'd come here and capture us. Take us away from our lives and everything we know and you think we will be happy with it?" she asked in anger, making her voice loud.

"They will be given the chance to choose, I told you we don't rape women. We woo, seduce and claim them. But of course that will only happen when we take them away from here,your queen is being utterly ridiculous with this war against the beasts and all things supernatural.

We need each other to survive the dangers of this world. You won't be able to survive without us, not for long anyway."

The Nerve! This arrogant beast thinks women can't survive without males? Well Queendom of Marlenia is proof that women can more than survive without males. Of the three hundred plus population of Marlenia the men were just two dozen excluding the boys.

"We have been surviving just fine without your help for years." She replied hauntingly then startled when they heard the loud sound.

Dang! Dang!

"What is that?" he growled suspiciously.

"Oh, it's nothing, that's the clock tower , it's midnight." That reminds her, she have to go, she'd been here longer than she intended.

"I have to go." Reyna took a step towards the steps that she had climbed down here, it leads to the servant quarters, then the tunnels. She glanced back, he only stared at her, his eyes glowing brighter, Reyna didn't wait to hear if he was going to say anything. She ran.