Lycan's Blood Queen

by Catherine Edward

  Maybe she was worried for nothing, and he was actually throwing away the money he earned to pay for her college tuition, which also included the fees for these tests.

  She forced herself to release the hard grip she had on her phone before returning to her entourage, finally taking off some edge by constantly chanting, “Everything is all right.” She was just overreacting over a little dream.

  As they stepped outside, the feeling of being watched hit her like it did this morning when she was leaving her place. Though she kept it to herself as they crossed the street, she fought the urge to scratch the back of her neck, feeling like a flea was there.

  Except it wasn’t a flea. Her problems were much bigger than she assumed.

  ***

  The men sitting in the ’67 Fastback watched as she entered the brick establishment. Who would have guessed these leeches infested their territory? So far, they've learned she was the only one. They had their people run a mass background check on every faculty member and student.

  Matthew tapped his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel, while Juan continued to go through the papers in his hands.

  “Nothing useful,” he declared, shoving everything back inside the folder.

  “Drive,” he ordered, and Matthew eased their way into traffic. He observed her from the mirrors when they passed. “Why don’t we take her into custody?”

  “And warn the others if there are more?” Juan shook his head. “Don’t get carried away. Our target is the one behind her.”

  Matthew ground his molars but said nothing to that. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “We have her father’s name. Ted Lawrence. We start there.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Cold crisp air filled his lungs. But it did nothing to ease the tension. Aaron George Randolph marched to the balcony. His fists clenched.

  They were in his territory again––hunting. His beast was on edge. It has just been little more than a week since his last run. Strong muscles in his arms flexed as he tightened his grip on the railing.

  They wanted a challenge, and he’d give it to them. He’d hunt them all and burn their asses, erasing their species for once and for all.

  The double doors to his makeshift office swung open.

  His father strode in, moving further to sit on the leather seat. Aaron inherited all his physical features from his father. Both having golden blond hair and warm brown eyes with high cheekbones and strong jaw lines, but he stood a couple inches taller than his father at six-foot-three.

  "Something’s bothering you.” His father, Jerome, observed.

  Instead of answering, the towering male made his way back inside the room and over to the cart filled with an unimaginable variety of tea. He filled the white china with the patience of a sprouting seed, waiting for the water to come to a boil before dousing it over the organic leaves sitting in the teacup. Saucer in hand, he balanced it perfectly with every step and placed it gently in front of his father.

  “I suppose you’re telling me to mind my own business." The former king closed his eyes, relaxing against the leather couch.

  He smirked. “It’s nothing you should worry about.”

  “I could argue that point, but I lack your mother’s perverseness. She could carry on an argument for weeks without an end in sight.” He chuckled. “But I know my boys. You’ll do whatever you want no matter the consequence.”

  Smiling, Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose before sitting across his father and pulling up the slacks to be comfortable. “Are you trying to score yourself a humble brag, Dad?”

  He scoffed. “Definitely not. Your mother won in most departments. I just gladly resorted myself to taking an L whenever I possibly could.”

  The strapping male seated opposite to the former king visibly cringed at his modern use of words.

  “God, don’t say that again.”

  He laughed. “I’ve got to find ways of keeping myself entertained. Bringing good stories to tell your mother when I meet her again. Otherwise, she’ll have my ass for being such a gloom bucket.” His oldest son looked across the table at his father, noticing the deep, dark bags under his eyes that once shone with authority and love. Jerome was slowly but surely becoming a skeleton of the male he once used to be. But this was the curse of their race––

  one mate for a lifetime. Since the loss of his mate, the words have slowly proven themselves true as sorrow etched all his features. Anything and everything reminded the male of his dead mate, their mother.

  To live out such a life even after finding your soul mate. . .

  Aaron looked away, swallowing hard before standing. He’d been trying to rub the edge off, but this made matters worse.

  He thought back to the time when his parents used to live happily, eyes twinkling with joy and love for each other. Often enjoying brunch and evening tea together. Esmeralda Maria Randolph, his mother, was always the voice of reason. He gained that quality from his mother.

  “It isn’t healthy to hold your beast a hostage for so long, son.” A quiet sip escaped his father.

  “A good run ought to set you both on track.”

  “No time,” he said.

  Aaron knew his father was right. He’d have to let it out soon or risk hurting someone.

  Having a mate would square all that out, but now it was not what his mind was occupied with. The war was looming on their heads. He had no time for anything else. “Juan and Matthew are following a lead, and I’m conflicted about the winter ball.” The pack would expect him to choose a mate.

  "You don't have to hurry, son. Wait for the right female. You have better control of your beast than I did." Jerome’s hand combed through Aaron’s hair. A deep sigh escaped his lips as he tilted his head, leaning toward his father.

  “Is there any progress with the clans?”

  “No.” The leaders of the three fellow clans were siblings, and Henry, his grandfather, was the firstborn. They lived together until the war among the supernaturals for the greed of power ripped them apart. The losses were too great, and the brothers didn’t agree with Henry’s views regarding the war. The estranged brothers now lived with their families and their own packs in different cities. Packs run by betas. Didn’t they realize the beasts needed their alpha?

  “What about the others?”

  Aaron sighed. “I suspect Helius is in bed with the vampires.” The hot-headed demon king was a constant pain in their asses. His spies spotted said demon with the leeches, not on one but two such occasions. It was bad enough that the demon was already on the fence.

  Despite his promise to stay away from the war, his sword was now tilting toward the wrong side of the playing field. Aaron knew he couldn’t trust that bastard. Demons were tricky. It was for the best to not assume anything with their kind, even if things looked rather bleak.

  “And what about the fae?”

  “Their three subjects were abducted last week. King Luvon wants help.” He stood and walked to his massive desk, sipping his tea thoughtfully. His gaze drifted through the stack of papers waiting for him. He’d send out a team of his best trackers. He wondered how much more successful his team would be this time. The trail always ended cold. It was as if they disappear into thin air. Perhaps that was what they did.

  He could see the need to have someone else in the field. Someone, who could trace magic back to its origin.

  "Now tell me about the girl your brothers found," his father asked sitting upright, cold fury replacing the warmth of his brown eyes.

  Aaron sensed the pain behind that fury. "She’s under surveillance.”

  Anger flared within him. The recent discovery had been a crest to his ever-growing problems. He wanted nothing more than to drag her sorry ass to the torture chambers.

  He had never hurt a female before. But I want to hurt this one.

  Her kind had been their mortal enemies ever since they came into existence.

  "Let me know when you have something; and son, be careful with th
is one.” Jerome stood.

  His nod was grim. "Sure."

  He dialed the familiar number for the third time today. Maximus, his third-in-command hadn’t checked in this afternoon.

  “John!” He reached out through their telepathic link. A convenient ability the lycanthropes and the werewolves possessed. It helped them to communicate with one another

  telepathically. It sure came handy often, but they had to be in close proximity for it to work.

  The link weakened with the distance.

  “Yes, Alpha.”

  “Max is in trouble. Get Frankie to track his phone.”

  “I’m on it.”

  “See what the leeches outside the city know of this girl.”

  “Certainly, Alpha.”

  He knew a few vampires were forced into this life. Hundreds of them lived on the outskirts of his territory with his approval. However, none had warned him about the intruder.

  How dare she barge into my territory without my permission? He refused to believe the things he heard about her. Her innocent appearance helped her blend with the humans.

  Looks could be deceiving. She has an agenda. That much was clear. Why else she would be in his territory under the disguise of a student?

  A trespasser.

  What were they planning this time? They were on the move. His hatred was directed to their king who set this in motion. No one knew where he hid his sanctuary, guarding it with the magic of witches. And Lilith, the witch, was the key. Escorting her to Brookedge was the task given to Maximus.

  He strolled to the balcony. His clothes ripped as his beast pushed forward. Bones snapped and realigned. Razor sharp claws burst out of his fingertips. Midnight black fur replaced his human skin. The beast of the night rolled its shoulders. He jumped over the railing, landing gracefully on the ground before taking off toward the east.

  ***

  Mia woke up soaked in her sweat. The nightmares were becoming her constant companion, and it troubled her. She checked her phone, frowning when there was no reply from her father. He never went this long without responding. Is he in trouble? No. He could protect his own hide.

  Hopping out of the bed, she strolled toward her tiny en-suite bathroom for her morning ritual. Mia longed for a run. Sometimes physical exertion helped clear the mind. An annoyed groan hissed out from her mouth entering the small space of the bathroom. At least they had running water though she’d have preferred it to be hotter. The worn-out cabinets that held the toiletries made her wonder if they’d survive this year. She could hardly see herself in the old mirror with rusty edges. The sense of foreboding subsided as she started the shower.

  A soft masculine hum reached her ears and her lips stretched to form a smile. These mundane things reminded her how ignorant the humans were. Would they be still singing if they knew they lived in a world filled with mythical creatures? Creatures that shouldn’t exist.

  She lived with that blissful ignorance until the incident a couple of years ago.

  The thin walls of her cozy apartment offered little privacy. She could often tell when her neighbor was awake or when he was moving around his house. Mia was thankful that he was a friendly guy who never had guests or female friends over. That’d have been awkward.

  An audible breath whooshed out of her at the thought. . .

  Dressing in a pair of tight jeans and turtleneck long-sleeved T-shirt, she pulled on her sweater. It did little to keep her warm in the ever-growing cold weather. Thanks to the centralized heating system that kept her room relatively warm.

  There was nothing much to do with exams around the corner. She was tempted to skip school, but then remembered she had a meeting with the college’s Career Services Counselor. The lack of caffeine was catching up with her. She ran out of coffee among other things and made a note to restock her pantry.

  While she blamed it on her reluctance to spend what’s more than necessary, she didn’t want to live under her father’s roof. However, with all the academic work, it was hard to find a part-time job without risking her grades. The time had finally come for her to pursue her dreams.

  “Good morning, Mia.” Logan chirped with his signature smile when she bumped into him in the corridor. She threw him a smile over her shoulder while locking the door.

  “Morning. How’s work?” she asked as they took the stairs down.

  “Busy. How is college?”

  “Good.”

  “Aren’t you graduating this year?”

  “I am.”

  Logan worked somewhere in the city. Their conversations were limited. She preferred it that way. Less is better. She bid him goodbye once they reached the diner and took the bus to her college.

  She couldn’t wait to get back to her apartment once the day was over. However, sleep was a luxury she couldn’t afford with finals drawing closer. She only had a week to prepare.

  “Mia!”

  Mia whirled around to see Stella, who ran toward her with a set of books hugged to her chest, hair whipping around her face as she ran.

  “Hey, I thought you left early,” Mia said as a greeting.

  “No. I was in the office, clearing up my dues. Are you done with your thesis yet?”

  “Yep,” she replied enthusiastically. A sense of accomplishment filled her. She was now one step closer to her freedom.

  “So how did your meeting go?”

  Mia adjusted her shoulder bag. “Good. There are a few internship opportunities I’m looking forward to.”

  “That’s great. Randolph’s on-campus recruiting is the best.”

  It was at that moment that the hair on her neck stood, and her skin prickled with awareness. Her heart thundered against her ribs, and her senses seemed to have heightened without her realizing it. She turned around to see no one. Hesitant feet moved when Stella dragged her along. She let out a shaky breath as a spot on her back tingled.

  “Did you see what Peter did the other day?”

  No, and I don’t care. Her mind was on the invisible stalker, who set her instincts on fire.

  Stella distracted her momentarily when a shadow moved past the tree line in her peripheral vision at the far end of the football field. A sudden flash of fear washed over her as her mind replayed the memory she tried hard to forget.

  I wish it’s just my mind playing tricks.

  A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  Thank you so much for reading Lycan’s Blood Queen. This is the very first story I wrote back in 2016. It went through a lot of rewrites since then, and I’m very happy with the end results. I really hope you enjoyed this story. If you liked it, do consider leaving reviews on

  Amazon, Goodreads or Bookbub. Reviews encourage the authors and help readers to discover new books.

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  “Catherine’s Book Café." I love to hear from my readers.

  See you soon with the sequel The Hybrid Queen. Have questions? Check out my website to read FAQ’s.

  Love,

  Catherine Edward

  Acknowledgements:

  This is also to all my kind readers who encouraged and supported me every day. I wouldn’t be here without you. I’d also like to thank my wonderful friends and authors Brett Hicks–

  without whom this story wouldn’t be possible, Daniel McNeill–who helped me brainstorm ideas for the vampires, Viorra Thompson–who helped me choose this title, Mama Maggie,

  Rachelle Mills & my pack girls at #InternationalWildflowerPack for motivating and inspiring me in a lot of ways. Also special thanks to authors Alyssa Urbano (AerithSage),

  Jennise .K, Richa Resa, Sarah Royal, Amy N. Johnson, Kassandra Young (K.A. Young), Ysa

  Archangel, E.S. Young, Mel Ryle, Sissi .O. Simons, and Jo Lee Hunt for always having my back.

  Website: www.catherineedward.com


  Email: Catherine@catherineedward.com