***Hi everyone! The Heart of a King has been nominated in the 2017 Fiction Awards. The King's Slave won last year and I'm hoping we could win this one too!

Please vote for the Heart of a King.

Just find the book called 2017 Fiction Awards and find the chapter where you can vote then scroll down to find it in the Fantasy category and comment +1. You can do this over and over a lot of times. (Will put a link too)

Thank you!

http://my.w.tt/UiNb/bskL89PlmF

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Chapter 25 - In Enemy Territory



Castle Xanthe

City of Aphelion, Wolfen Territory

The Realm of Xathos

Ailara passed by the grand throne room of the palace and tried her best to be inconspicuous.

If she had the power to blend into the grey, stone walls of the castle, she would have used it so no one would notice her. But, alas, she did not have the power. And so she just ignored all the pitying glances, calculating stares, and the whispers she heard as she walked by.

If only there was another way to the courtyard of the palace, she would have taken it just so she wouldn't have to face Dimitrios' people.

Before she exited the vast throne room, Ailara took a sideway glance towards Dimitrios. He sat on top of his throne as he listened to his people and cast judgement and advice. His handsome face was marred by a frown and his lips were set in a very thin line.

Like always, Dimitrios was back to his alpha mode and gone was the tender lover she knew for a night. He was back to his territory and he was a king more than he was her husband.

Husband. Ailara scoffed at the word.

It's been a month since their wedding and their return to the Wolfen lands. And all this time, nothing happened between her and Dimitrios. Yes, she saw him several times a week because he insisted on feeding her from his vein. But other than that, there was nothing.

They didn't share a bed—not even a room together. She was not invited to the dinner parties and events hosted by his people. Whenever they saw each other, it seemed they were more strangers than husband and wife!

If they passed each other by the hallways, Dimitrios didn't even acknowledge her.

And his treatment of her spread through his people like wildfire. They assumed that she forced their king to marry her and now that he has honored his part of the bargain, he wanted nothing to do with her.

This was the reason his people treated her like she did not exist. This was also the reason why there were several whispers and calculating gazes everytime she encountered his people—especially the women.

They were simply mimicking how their king acted and spreading more gossip about her.

She was an outsider. She did not belong here; especially not by their king's side.

With a sigh, Ailara pushed open the door that led to the courtyard.

A month ago, before her people arrived here, the courtyard was just a vast, empty place. Now, several large tents were erected and the courtyard was alive with a bustle of activity as her people awoke.

The sun has just set and there was much to do. Her people had everything they needed in here—except a warm welcome. It was obvious that the feud between the Vampyrs and the Wolfen just ran too deep and there was no mending it easily.

"Greetings, my queen," Andreas, the priest, said.

Ailara almost jumped. She was so lost in her thoughts and in her self-pity that she did not even hear him approach.

"Greetings, Andreas. How are you today?" she answered.

"Good, my queen. And yourself?"

"The same. As always."

Tired. Alone. Trapped.

"The herbs that our healer ordered arrived today. Our infirmary is well-stocked now and we are prepared for any kind of illness. We are even prepared for war if it comes."

Ailara mustered a small smile. "That's good to hear. But let's hope war doesn't come anytime soon. Our warriors still need to train."

She scanned her surroundings and saw Gideon making his rounds and gathering his warriors near the gates of the castle. They will head outside soon for their training. Also, it was their turn to man the towers and the wall of the castle as the Wolfen rested for the night.

"Will you be joining the warriors in training today, my queen?"

Ailara took a deep breath before answering. "Yes, I think I would. I'm feeling very energized today and I need to let some of it out."

It was Andreas' turn to smile. "Ah, that's because it's the full moon tomorrow, your highness."

Ailara nodded at the same time she clenched her fist so hard that she could feel her nails biting into her skin.

The full moon. The night when the Wolfen was most influenced by the moon and they danced and mated all night long. Will Dimitrios remember her then? Or would she be confined to her room again while he danced with the beautiful, eligible females of his kingdom?

This train of thought just increased Ailara's desire to train with her warriors and let off some steam.

"I'll go now, Andreas. Talk to you later!" she said and then headed towards the edge of the forest.

And then time seemed to blur as Ailara trained with her fellow Vampyr. She trained with a sword and brandished it left and right. It was like a dance whose steps she already memorized by heart and can execute even with her eyes closed.

Such was the life of a warrior. But Ailara refused to close her eyes. For when she did, she recalled all those times she was under Heilen's control and forced to do his bidding.

She was his killing-machine. She was trapped inside her own body, unable to stay her hand in delivering a killing blow to innocents. Blood of her fellow Vampyr even coated her hands.

But at least she was free now. And she'd choose to die before she returned to the life she's known.



The Woods Near Castle Xanthe

City of Aphelion, Wolfen Territory

The Realm of Xathos



"It's a pleasant sight, no? Seeing how graceful there movements are," Argos told Dimitrios.

Dimitrios heard his beta's approaching footsteps but refused to take his eyes away from looking at the Vampyrs who were currently training.

"Yes. Their strength is not in brute force but they make up for it in speed," Dimitrios answered.

He and Argos stood at one of the watchtowers overlooking the forest. Dimitiros went up here to oversee the switching of the guards' shifts. But then from the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of silver in the moonlight.

And his attention was captivated.

He had eyes for no other than Ailara.

"Her movements seem familiar," Argos told him.

"Hmm?" Dimitrios was only half-listening. He continued to watch Ailara's movements. It made his pulse race and his mouth dry. She was training with a sword and each movement seemed so graceful and sensuous—yet lethal at the same time.

"Look at her and her fellow warriors. The Vampyrs move in the same way. They were trained from the same mold. Yet, she is not. She is different. And I feel like I've seen this somewhere before."

Now, Argos had Dimitrios' attention.

"What do you mean?"

Argos lifted his hand and scratched his chin. "Maybe I've fought her before?"

Before Dimitrios could process those words properly, a growl already escaped from his lips. Argos jumped back and held up his hands.

"Easy, Dimitri."

Dimitrios took several deep breaths to calm his nerves. He didn't know why he was reacting this way. Ever since Ailara returned to his castle, she brought out emotions he didn't know existed.

The wolf inside him loved her scent. It took all his willpower not to go after her whenever they meet in hallways and he could smell the lovely scent of her hair. Whenever she fed from him, his body would go from calm to burning with lust in a matter of seconds.

When her fangs are deep within his skin, all he could think about was how he wanted to be buried in her tight sheath as well. It took all the control he had not to throw her on the bed and have his way with her.

Also, he found that he was always aware of her whenever she was near—and even when she wasn't. Earlier today, she walked into the throne room where he was holding council and his brain was filled with nothing but thoughts of her.

When she was far away, his wolf clawed inside him to come near her and make sure she was safe. His wolf didn't want to let her out of his sight.

But the man didn't want to see her for she was nothing but a distraction. So he did his best to avoid her.

He thought it was for the best so she would not get attached. Also, his wolf seemed to believe it was mated to her in a true mating. He did not want to encourage that false belief further.

"Come to think of it, maybe I haven't." Argos' words snapped Dimitrios out of his thoughts.

"Probably not. She was not seen since the day she slaughtered our kind."

"True," Argos replied. "But still... It all seems very familiar. I feel like I've seen these movements before..." His voice trailed off as if deep in thought.

Dimitrios chose to remain silent. If there was one characteristic that was above all else in his beta, it was his curiosity. He just can't let go of something once he's sunk his claws into it.

"By the way, there's something I've been meaning to speak to you about."

"What is it, Argos?"

"You're ignoring your queen," Argos stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I was not."

"You were. You should talk to her, Dimitrios. Be seen in public with her. She's your wife—"

Dimitrios cut him off. "And my marriage is none of your damned business."

Argos raised an eyebrow. "It is everyone's business because you are King," Argos retorted.

The King of the Wolfen growled in response.

"Everyone is mimicking your actions, Dimitrios. She is being treated badly or otherwise ignored. Her people are being treated badly as well. You know that as our King and Alpha, our people look up to you as an example."

Another growl. Deep inside, Dimitrios knew that his beta was right. He just refused to accept it. He hated being told what to do and he hated people meddling in his own affairs. This one was personal. Also, it was rude for the Wolfen to say to another Wolfen that his or her mate was being treated unfairly. It was the biggest of insults.

It was because it never happened. Wolfen spent their entire lives looking forward to the day they finally find their mate. And when they do, they spend the rest of their lives keeping each other happy.

But the king's mate was not wolfen.

Dimitrios sighed. It was just that he wanted to avoid Ailara for she turned his world upside down. She stirred feelings in him that he didn't like.

But Argos was right... As king, his actions had repercussions.

"Fetch your queen, Dimitrios. It's the full moon tomorrow. Maybe it will be good to make amends," Argos told him.

Before Dimitri could reply, Argos left. From the way he moved, Dimitrios knew he was still deep in thought. With a sigh, Dimitrios headed towards the forest. He was close when it started to rain.

Suddenly, it was very cold.

Several Vampyr warriors quickly traced back to their tents. Some who were left behind picked up discarded weapons and cleaned up the part of the forest they used as their training grounds. After everything was in order, they too traced away.

Ailara was the only one who was left.

When everyone was gone, she stepped forward into the clearing where there were no trees to shield her from the rain.

What was she doing?

Instead of tracing back to the safety of the castle and in front of a warm fire, Ailara spread her arms and tilted her face towards the sky. She wore an expression of bliss as droplets of water pelted her skin.

Dimitrios quickened his pace. Vampyrs weren't immune to cold and sickness and here was his queen with a death wish.

Ailara opened her eyes and was instantly alert when he neared. Her hand automatically reached for her weapon and drew it. When she saw that it was only him, she sheathed her weapon.

"Why are you out here?" Dimitrios asked her.

Her eyes flashed at his question. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished as well. "I was training with my people, your highness," she replied drily.

"Go back to the castle now before you catch a cold," he commanded in a low tone.

The little Vampyr ignored him and closed her eyes once more. Her dress was already soaked and it clung to her like a second skin.

"Ailara," Dimitrios called out.

"Please go back without me, your highness. I'd really like to stay. You might be cold too," she answered.

Dimitrios growled. "Our bodies are much warmer. We don't get cold as easily as the Vampyr do," he answered.

"I will return in a bit," she told him.

He couldn't hold back the question any longer. "Why?"

"Why, what?"

"Why do you insist on staying here?"

It was a long time before she replied. "There is joy in the simplest of things that people take for granted," she replied softly.

Her words took him aback. What exactly did she mean by that?

"What?" he hissed.

"When you have been denied something for a long time, you crave it. When you've had nothing, every piece of scrap thrown your way seems like gold," she replied.

Now, he was really confused. Why the hell was she speaking in riddles?

He walked towards her and grabbed her by the waist. She opened her eyes and looked at him directly.

"Trace us back to the castle. Now," he ordered.

"Please go back without me," she pleaded. Again, he was taken aback. He was alpha and he was used to his commands being obeyed.

"Ailara. Now," he repeated.

This time, she looked at him with sadness in her eyes. The wolf inside him clawed at his chest at seeing her like this. Why was standing in the rain so important to her?

"Come back with me to the Palace and we'll sit by the fire. I'll tell you another legend of my people," he bargained.

"Which legend?" she asked eagerly. The corner of Dimitrios lips turned up in a smile. He knew he had Ailara's attention now.

Her eyes instantly brightened and her entire face glowed. He knew she loved those legends. This particular one that he planned on telling her later was a romantic one that he knew she'll like.

A story was a very simple thing to give her and cost him nothing yet she looked like he was handing her the stars and the moon.

"Sylvan's brightest star," he answered.

"Truly?"

"Yes. Now let's go."

"Alright. If it pleases your majesty," she replied softly.

He turned around to head back to the castle and heard her soft footsteps as she followed. In his head, Dimitrios tried to recall the legend so he can tell Ailara and not miss any part of the story.

Then maybe after the story, he'd invite her to dine with him and his warriors instead of locking herself inside her room for the rest of the night.

Suddenly, Dimitrios instinct screamed at him that something was very wrong. All the hair on his body stood on end and it was as if time slowed.

He caught a glint of metal from the corner of his eye and heard a soft whoosh as the object hurtled through the air.

His battle instincts took over and he turned around fast as he shouted, "Get down!"

But he was still too damned slow and the warning was too late...

He heard the thump of the arrow as it hit skin and buried itself deep.

Ailara gasped as the arrow embedded on her back. Her eyes widened in surprise and she began to slump forward. Dimitrios caught her just in time as she fell.

"Ailara!" he roared.

His wolf took over and all thoughts ceased and became pure instinct as he transformed in his wolf form to protect his mate.



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***Hi everyone! The Heart of a King has been nominated in the 2017 Fiction Awards. The King's Slave won last year and I'm hoping we could win this one too!

Please vote for the Heart of a King.

Just find the book called 2017 Fiction Awards and find the chapter where you can vote then scroll down to find it in the Fantasy category and comment +1. You can do this over and over a lot of times. (Will put a link too)

If you have some spare time, please spam away! Would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you!

http://my.w.tt/UiNb/bskL89PlmF