Chapter 40 Killing Intent
"Hurry up! walk faster!," Astrid shouted to her mate clawing him in the face and kicking up a fuss. "I don't to miss seeing the Queen!" This is my chance she thought. As a royal I am allowed to sit in the Royals Box with the King and Queen. I'll be able to finally see the Queen. Maybe I can push her off the balcony and make it look like an accident. The little runt has become a huge thorn in her side. If she had never come along then she could have potentially had a chance with the King. He would have eventually given up his search and chose her to be his mate since she was best suited as the most popular and beautiful female in Kosea.
If she could somehow take the Queen out of the picture then she could end her mate contract with Lord Braeker and weasel her way into the King's heart. Lord Braeker was never her first choice for a mate, she only mated with him to gain a position with the Royals. If she had a choice she would have chosen the High King every time. She didn't care if tossing a mate away was considered the worst fate for a male. There were so many males in Kosea that she considered them to be disposable anyway and only good for doing her bidding. She only cared about her position and she wanted to be the most loved female in all of Kosea. She had a reputation to uphold and that weak little human girl was standing in her way.
Lord Braeker suddenly stopped in his tracks, grabbing a hold of his heart. He had just heard Astrid's thoughts, that caused his heart to wrench inside of him. After all he has done for her and she still plans on getting rid of him by ending their mating contract. Ending a mating contract with a male was one of the worst fates they could endure. If a female breaks a contract with a male that male will be banished from the city. They will be ostracized and can never mate with another female for all of eternity. They also will never be allowed to die and pass on. They will have to live until the end of time with their guilt and shame of being tossed aside by their female. His heart ached every time she thought about tossing him aside.
As he continued to listen to her thoughts the pain in his eyes turned to shock. Astrid was planning on harming the Queen! He quickly handed Astrid off to one of her lovers, "here take her I have to attend to something, I'll join you in a little bit." He was absolutely disgusted with her right now. Never has he seen such an ugly heart after encountering the Queen. After Astrid was out of his sight he snapped his fingers and a parchment appeared before him. He scribbled a note to the King that read, "Astrid has a killing intent out for the Queen. It is not a good idea to let them anywhere near each other. Just say the word and we can go sit with the other females. It is my duty to protect the Queen even if it goes against my mate's wishes," signed Lord Braeker. In a puff of smoke his note was sent to the King.
Astrid was shocked, she has never been handled so roughly before in her life. It felt like her mate's attitude had all of sudden turned cold toward her. He shoved her roughly into her lovers arms and ran off without another word. She shook her head shaking it off thinking maybe an emergency with the tournament had come up, she shouted to her lover, "well don't just stand there hurry up. I need to get to the Royals Box! Her lover turned on his heels walking briskly toward the Royals Box. Within minutes they could see the elevator leading up, but something was off, there were guards stationed all around it blocking the entrance. "Holt who goes there?" One of the guards shouted.
"It is me Astrid, I demand entry at once, step aside and let me pass," she demanded. "Sorry no can do, no females aloud upstairs. The Royal Box seating is off limits to all females. Move along you'll be sitting in the female section with the other females sixth floor row eighteen," he said pointing in the direction of the female section. "What?! You've got to be kidding me!!! I am a Royal I demand to know what is going on here!!! She screamed at the top of her lungs. A moment later Astrid saw Sophie appear from behind her. "Holt identify yourself," another guard shouted. "It's me Sophie, may I pass?" The guard nodded waving her through.
"You're clear to go ahead, the queen is expecting you." The guards parted letting her through. Just before Sophie ascended Astrid saw her smiling wickedly and waving at her before she disappeared. "I thought you just said no females aloud? Why does she get to pass?!," she cried. "Sophie and Eleanor have special clearance. The Queen has requested their presence. Aside from them, the High King has demanded no other females. Astrid let out a low growl deep in her throat. She was so close to wanting to claw someone's eyes out. The Queen must know she's on to her. There is just too many coincidences happening for her not to.
"Let's go before I tear his throat out," she screamed slamming her fist on the top of her lover's head. He carried her toward the females seating where the guard had pointed. He was going to get the punishment of his life when they return home. Astrid is going to be so angry with all of us even if it wasn't our fault. He almost wished he would have never become lovers with her. Maybe he would have had a chance with the Queen and his life not be a living hell. He climbed the stairs two at a time, he was hoping she wouldn't hit him again. Her punches didn't hurt in the least but it still upset him whenever she used violence against him like this.
The other females spotted them approaching with looks of surprise on their faces. Surely if anyone could get into the Royals Box it would be Astrid the most popular female in Kosea. But seeing her here meant that even she was turned away. "It looks like you were turned away too huh," her friend Orsi muttered. "What is going on why are all of you here? Why aren't we allowed in the Royals Box?" She demanded of the females present. "We don't know why for sure we tried to enter the Royal's box but the guards there turned all of us away. We believe the King is not allowing anyone near his Queen because she is with Child," Orsi pointed toward the Royal's Box across the way.
"The Queen just arrived five minutes ago. We can see her from here," another female said pointing in the same direction. Astrid spun around searching for the Queen, she spotted her running around from one railing to the next over looking the crowd down below her. Upon further inspection she noticed the Queen's forehead was glowing. She hissed when she saw this. The rumors were true the little runt with no estrous cycle really has conceived! How was this even possible?! She stumbled almost falling into one of the female's lap behind her. She was just a child, millions of years behind a newborn and yet somehow she was able to conceive?! It was unheard of!
Astrid quickly shook off her offer to help and regained her balance glaring at the Queen, "Look at them running about up there! They look like nothing more than children running around. How can she call herself a queen when she behaves more like a child?" Astrid hissed. "What does the King even see in her that would warrant him to even want to be mates with her?" She growled not talking to any female in particular. "Maybe it's because her resolve toward males is weak. Instead of her bossing them around like us, she lets them make decisions for her. I heard rumors from a guard that she never even chose Silas as her lover, he was chosen for her," Orsi laughed mockingly.
All of a sudden the stadium around them went dark, the usual little squat of a man stepped out and gave a speech to begin the games. Astrid rolled her eyes not at all interested in the speech as the man finished. She was about to sit down when a male stepped forward. Her breath caught in her throat when she heard him asking to perform a chant for the Queen. She looked up at the King waiting for his response, a moment later he shook his head encouraging them to continue. She was beyond shocked that the King would allow this! Never in the history of the tournament has a male ever been allowed to perform for a female. Not even during her tournament!
Astrid watched furiously as all the males lined up in neat little rows holding their spears and lightning rods waiting to begin, all of a sudden the giant torches all around the outside of the stadium lit up, lighting up the stadium casting a dim glow on the crowd while illuminating the males down below, they then began their chant as it echoed beautifully all around them,
The sound of our brethren comes a calling
Stars and comets will reign in full
Snow in the ice cold frigid currents
Fight to death
She's a beauty oh forever young
Gazing at the moon tonight
Her fair hair is a golden glitter
Our chosen one
The Queen's a calling it's mating time
Her womb be fruitful and multiply
A child stirs within her an heir will rise
Raise her kin
Oh oh ohoo oh
The echos of her eternity
Oh oh ohoo oh
Her love will set us free
Oh oh ohoo oh
The echos of her destiny
Oh oh ohoo oh
Her light shines down on me
Her light shines down on me
She casts a spell upon us all
You've made a way into our weak hearts
Casting a spell of eternal infinity
Guard her well
We are Star Struck watch her singing
Watching the galaxy fill her eyes
Star light shinning bright in the night
Her wish comes true
Oh oh ohoo oh
The echos of her eternity
Oh oh ohoo oh
Her love will set us free
Oh oh ohoo oh
The echos of her destiny
Oh oh ohoo oh
Her light shines down on me
Her light shines down on me
Cast our Spells protect her now
Cast our Spells enchant her now
Cast our Spells protect her now
Cast our Spells enchant her now
Oh oh ohoo oh
The echos of her eternity
Oh oh ohoo oh
Her love will set us free
Oh oh ohoo oh
The echos of her destiny
Oh oh ohoo oh
Her light shines down on me
Her light shines down on me
When the song ended Astrid was absolutely seething with rage. How come no one ever performed a song in her honor?!! Why is the Queen all of a sudden getting the special treatment from every male present? Glancing at the Queen their eyes met for a brief moment as she saw the queen smile and wave at her. Her hand gripped the railing in front of her as her claws extended leaving scratch marks on the metal. Who does she think she is? Coming in here ruining my life and upsetting the balance of Kosea. She thinks she can just waltz in here take my King, and gain favor with all the males? She gets whatever she wants while trampling on my rights to even sit in the Royals Box. Ugh it's not fair. Something has to be done about her before she ruins everything!