The Alpha King’s Virgin by Charmeleon (Raine & Amari)

Chapter 48

AMARIS

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I had a lucky break, I thought to myself. The water could have easily been poisoned also. My thirst won that time, I wouldn’t be so reckless a second time. Not that I planned on remaining here for much longer.

“What the hell…” Lord Greyson bend down to examine the dead guard after I’d linked him to come and see me. “How did this happen?”

“I let him taste my food, Greyson.” I kept my voice level although I felt like raging and clawing at the silver bars. “I am not safe here.”

Greyson raked a hand through his silver mane. “This is unfortunate, your Majesty. I will personally see to your meals.” The concern was clearly etched on his face as he linked his men to dispose of the unfortunate guard’s body. “I’m truly sorry, I will investigate thoroughly and bring the guilty one to justice.”

“No, you will let me out!” My aura dealt him a physical blow and he sta ggered back. I doubted the guilty one – which I bet my life was Sorin – would be found out.

He took a moment to recover. “I’m afraid, I cannot do that, your Majesty.” Going down on one knee and with his head bowed, he said, “Please forgive me, Sire. Be patient. This is temporary. I am keeping a

watchful eye on the prince. You know I’ve always been loyal to

known him all my life and never had any reason to distrust hu.” He wasn’t being dishonest. I’ve

“And yet, here I am being locked up like a criminal while Sorin sits on my throne.” I fixed my gaze on him from where I sat on the hard bench. He still knelt on the stone floor. The others came to collect the body and the remaining food.

“I’m doing this to protect your kingdom. You will be ostracized if you killed your brother.” The older man sighed. He had always looked out for me, more like a second father. I knew my mother made him swear to protect Sorin, her favorite son, and Greyson was a wolf of his word. I never envied him the position he was in, stuck in the middle of two brothers’ hate for each other and trying to keep us from killing one another.

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But I didn’t need a father now, I had to escape to look for Raine. “I am a sitting duck here, Greyson! If you are so loyal to me like you claim, you would set me free to find my queen.”

He stood, pulling at his uniform to straighten it. “Your warriors are scouring the kingdom for her, your Majesty. It would be unwise to have you running amuck and leaving your castle vulnerable.”

“The castle is already vulnerable, Lord Greyson, with that fool occupying my place.” To say I hated that Sorin was currently in charge of the kingdom was a gross understatement. Although, if I had to choose

between Raine and the crown, the crown would not stand a chance.

“Please listen, Sire. There hasn’t been any ransom demand to date. So, I think it’s safe to say that whoever took her wants you to run around looking for her, leaving your kingdom open to attack.” He was right, of course.

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“Well, I have another means to look for her and if that works, Greyson, nothing will keep me here. Even if I have to break down this cell, stone by stone.”

“You can rely on me to help you, Sire.” Greyson said, bowing to me.

The waiting drove me up the walls. My guards kept a safe distance from my cell, guilt coming off them in waves and also a fair amount of fear. They have been ordered not to engage with me, no matter what I ordered them to do, or they would be executed.

Richard, my personal royal bodyguard kept me informed about Sorin through the mind link. According to him, Sorin and his mate were enjoying his temporary rise to power, making sure everyone knew he was in charge. Typical.

Probably planning my funeral already. Well, sorry to disappoint. I wasn’t planning on dying soon.

Rage came to his senses later that day, snarling and snapping at my boundaries. He pushed for control, and it took all my willpower to keep him at bay. He planned to break through the silver bars, no matter if we would suffer severe injury.

‘Get yourself together, Rage! We will gain nothing if we half kill ourselves.’ I tried to get him to see

reason.

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Chapter 48

He was not listening. ‘Don’t try and stop me! Our mate needs us.”

‘Don’t you think I know that Rage!’ I yelled at him, and he snarled back..

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‘Then stop sitting on your as s and get us OUT!” He flung me off the bench onto the floor to get me to

transform.

“Your Majesty?”

I looked up to see Ross standing in front of the cell, accompanied by Rhona and an unknown woman.

“Thank the Goddess, I thought you were never coming.” Out of breath and sweating I straightened myself. The effects of the wolfsbane had worn off and Rage was stronger than ever.

Rhona and the other woman bowed their heads respectively. “This is Joanna, a friend of my mother’s, your Majesty.”

“I gather you’re a witch?” It must have taken a great deal of courage to come to the castle. Witches weren’t exactly welcomed in the werewolf realm. We were wary of them and with good cause. They hardly ever do a favor without exacting a heavy price and some of them could be downright sneaky.

The woman lifted her head to face me. She lifted the hood that covered her hair and most of her face. She was stunningly beautiful with fiery red hair and dark green eyes.

“I am indeed.” Her voice was soft and lilting, melodious. A lesser man or wolf could easily fall under her spell. “I believe you need my services.”

I

I watched her closely. “What do you want in return for your services?” I would give her whatever her heart desired to have Raine back in my arms again.

She smiled slightly, dimples appearing on her cheeks. “Let’s find her first, your Majesty. I will perform a simple scrying spell and when you have her safely returned to you, we will discuss the payment.”

“What do you need?” I was eager to begin. Too much time had already been wasted.

She turned to Rhona. “I need something personal of hers. Maybe the last thing she handled or wore?”

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Chapter 48

The shoe. “We found her shoe at the mine where she went missing.” I suggested. “It’s in

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my bedroom.

“I will get it.” Rhona ran out of the dungeon to collect the shoe while Ross stayed behind with the witch.

From the bag slung over one shoulder, she took out a small, round object. It was covered by a velvet cloth which she spread out onto the stone floor to place the black crystal ball in the middle of it. Then she took out four white candles and placed them some distance away from the ball in a semi-circle.

Ross linked me, ‘Amaris, I hope this works. I am not a believer in this kind of mumbo-jumbo, but Rhonal swears by her.”

Joanna smiled secretly, peering at Ross through lowered lashes. “A werewolf who doesn’t believe in witchcraft?” she laughed as she lit the candles one by one with a flick of her finger.

Rhona returned speedily with my beloved’s shoe in her hand and gave it to Joanna, She put it next to the crystal ball, took out a crystal pendulum and held it in her hand, closing her eyes. The witch muttered something under her breath I couldn’t understand.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

Rhona put her fingers to her lips, motioning for me to keep quiet. I watched as she raised the pendulum over the crystal ball, and it swayed slowly without her moving her hand. Minutes passed, turned into half an hour with nothing happening.

But then magically, a white mist from inside the black crystal ball started to appear a

face. Raine.

“Found her!” Joanna exclaimed. “She’s in the Vampire realm.”