The Lycan King and I: Taken, Mated, Bred

ISLA

"I offer myself in his stead" I said out loud.

A lot had happened to me in the past few hours and I couldn't believe that I was here in front of two powerful Kings. I was kneeling and I was begging and most importantly I was giving up my life to save my brother's. I had to save him. I just had to. My brother had been taken in by the powerful Rokhan warriors for hunting a very reverted and sacred animal in the surrounding forest, and the penalty for that was death. The only thing I could think of to help him, the only was to save him was give myself up in his stead, so here I was.

I wasn't as loud as I would have wanted but I still felt his piercing gaze leave the king and come to my body. Familiar goosebumps went over my body as I felt his intense gaze.. the horde king. I could...feel his eyes on me and I had never felt so naked in my life, almost as if he was looking right into my soul

Maybe the king noticed that the horde king's eyes were now on something else but he also went quiet and his eyes came to me. A lone thin female wearing a white garment and a huge robe with dirty filthy boots. The entire room went quiet as well and all eyes came to me. The two Kings in attendance, the twelve elders ruling our twelve cities, the Rokhans and all the other heads and witnesses. All eyes came to me

"Five" I whispered the last number as I counted. It was now or ever. "I offer myself in his stead! My brother has been brought for a crime that is punishable by death, but I would like to offer my life instead" I said out loud so that everyone heard me.

One tidbit of information to be known about what I had just done was a first in our kingdom Although this was a tradition that the Kingdom of Xion held very dear to them. It was acceptable for one person to take the place of another for any punishment, only if the horde king gave permission that is. It was something my mother had told me among the many stories of the Kingdom of Xion that she had told me as a child. So I had known the moment my brother was dragged away that I could save him, by offering myself first

"Take her away!" Barked King Purak at some of his soldiers. He looked pissed that I had interrupted such an important meeting. What he didn't know was that all of that stopped being important the moment I decided to do this.

A few of the soldiers rushed forward and I immediately went into defense mode, they would not prevent me from saving my brother! I was too weak to stop them as they quickly subdued me and pulled me away from the room. My eyes went to my brother and the small hope that had grew in my heart began to wither away as I was pulled farther from him. I wouldn't be able to...save him

"Stop" A voice said calmly but I felt the words through my body like a spear. The soldiers holding me also went still.

"Bring her forth. I will listen to her" said the voice again. The horde king had spoken, and the soldiers had to follow his order. The horde king and my king were both kings in their own rights, but the horde king would always hold supreme in every room he walked into..he held that kind of power.

The soldiers quietly brought me back and forcefully pushed me to my knee. I winced as I felt pain but I didn't even let it register. My breath was labored and my heart was beating a slow hard pace. Even my body recognized power when It was near one. I still hadn't look up at the horde king, still haven't looked into his face, could only hear his voice. I was simply too terrified to look into his face. All this years that I had wondered what he looked like and it was at the time of my death I would finally see him. It wasn't fair...life wasn't fair. For the first time since all this started tears sprung into my eyes and I let them fall. There was no need putting a brave face anymore. The horde king would listen to me and save my brother, I hope so with all my heart.

"Please...Let me offer myself in his stead" I said admist the tears, my eyes fixed on the ground in front of me. I saw in my periphery as huge feet passed in front of me to get to the horde king and then there was whispers before the horde king signalled the person away. It was probably a Rokhan filling him in on what had happened.

"Do you understand that I will have your life instead of his? Your death instead of his?" The horde king asked as he stared at me. All his attention, all of that power was on me

ISLA

I had been crying silently but my shoulders began to shake after the horde king uttered those words. I didn't let a single sound out of my mouth though, making sure to keep all my cried and whimpering inside, maybe that was why I was shaking so bad.

"Yes I understand. I don't care what happens to me as long as I can save my brother. Please" I whispered but it was loud and could be heard everywhere in the silent room.

"You are either brave or stupid to do this little lamb" he said

"A little bit of both" I whispered to myself but I could have sworn all the Rokhans heard me.

He adjusts his sitting in the throne and leans forward. And he goes quiet for a short while, probably thinking of the best way to kill me quickly and get his over with.

He instead, gets up from the throne and walks urgently towards me. I staggered back but he didn't hesitate and pulled me easily by my arm until I was standing and then he was pulling me with him away from the hall.

"I will have a private meeting with the female, you will all wait" he addressed the room without even looking back.

The horde king shockingly pulled me out of the way, walked a few feet towards an empty room and pulled me in then locked the door. It was a huge official sitting room with a desk and achair and several chairs with important books. He sat me on one of the chairs and went around to sit on the other, then his weird gaze came to me with all it's intensity.

"My time is invaluable little lamb, tell me what I get in return for saving your brother's life" he says

"There must be something I can do. I will work for you to pay off his debt. My brother is a good man! I could be your servant..." I rushed to explain. I refused to discuss death again and wouldn't if I could help it.

"Good men make stupid decisions all the time" he says slowlyas he gets up from his chair and comes to stand in front of me then crouches, he was so huge and big that he was still a little taller than me in that position.

My heart was beating out of the roof and I couldn't fully breathe. I willed myseyti finally look at him but I was just too terrified.

I was startled when his huge hand crept between my legs and pulled me and my chair even closer to him right until I could feel his breathe on my forehead.

He tucks some loose part of my hair behind my ear, every touch sending sparks and promises of wicked things to me. I tremble with his actions, confusion and fear in my mind. I realize then that it isn't just fear weighing down my bones, but the lust causing my panties to become wet.

He freezes and pulls in a deep breath, almost as if he could smell the need he has evoked in my body.

"Yes, you indeed could serve me very well alive" his voice has gone deeper and a growl rumbles deep from his chest.

He stands up abruptly and pulls away then walks out of the room to return back to the meeting hall. I hastily get up and rush after him. I had just followed him into the hall when his voice rang out.

"Prepare the gourmet. A hundred lashes instead of her life. I don't need her death and I have come for peace. No blood shed today" he said to one of his warriors who I would soon come to find out was his Pujerak, his second in command.

Disbelief went through not just me but everyone in the room. I haven't ever heard that someone who should die by the horde king's hand was spared. It was the miracle of all miracles, something that has only happened this one time. I couldn't believe it, I simply couldn't. I don't think luck has ever shined on me till today. The goddess Kasia was truly a merciful goddess.

"Thank you!" I said as I quickly knelt in front of him. My life had just been saved.

Conversation between the two Kings ensued and whispers could be heard through the room. Everyone took the queue from the horde king and completely ignored me as I waited for my faith. Some noise could heard outside and soon enough a few Rokhans returned and whispered to the horde king. He gave them an order in thier tribal language and two of the Rokhans came to stand in front of me then pulled me by the arms and took me out of the room and outside the palace hall. They dropped me to the ground and I quickly knelt as I waited for my punishment.

As far as I was concerned, getting flogged a hundred times was a lot more better and merciful than death. I was nothing but happy ...but as I watched the two Kings and everyone that had been in the room walk out to witness my punishment, a different type of dread sank into my stomach. Just because the horde king had spared my life doesn't mean that getting flogged wouldn't kill me as well.

A hand jerked me around till I no longer faced the palace building but faced the palace grounds. All the people that I had passed through while entering the palace stood in front of me....about a hundred people watched me as I watched them. My hand was shoved behind my back and tied in quick efficient knots with a rope.. I wondered for a moment if my robe and my gown would be removed but the Rokhan stepped back and let me keep my dignity.

"Pujerak. Do the honors" ordered the horde king somewhere behind him.

The Pujerak took the first step towards me and I realized that I didn't want to face the people as I was flogged. What I wanted right now, what I wanted the most right now was to look into the eyes of the horde king as his punishment was carried out on me. I quickly turned around and gave my back to the people instead and I watched as the Pujerak 's steps faltered and then he resumed walking. In one hand was a whip....severall thick and long whips held together in one end. Each strike would feel like five against my skin.

"I am lucky, I am lucky" I whispered against my lips. The tears in my eyes were almost dry and I slowly closed my eyes. The Pujerak's footsteps stopped behind me.

Those few seconds efore his first strike hit me I noticed that the air was nice and cool for a hot afternoon. It blew softly against my hair and my flushed skin. The gown I wore was tight against my waist and flared down to my feet. It was mother's favorite gown and I felt very close to her in that moment.

The whoosh of the whip was loud and I breathed before it hit my back. My closed eyes went open immediately as I pulled in a deep breath. I had to quickly bite my lip to prevent my cry from coming out. Pain the likes I had never felt went through my body and fresh tears immediately began to pour out of my eyes. Another whoosh and a second strike on my back. I wanted to crawl away from the whip so badly at this point. I felt like I was going to die and it was still literally the second strike. After the third strike a kind of numbness came over my body, this was my body's way of dealing with this immense pain. I felt like I was having an out of body experience as several other strikes hit my skin. At some point I felt the cool air hit my exposed back and I faintly realized that the whipping had tore through my robe and gown.

"Nine" said the Pujerak after another strike had hit my back. It was only then I realized that he had been counting. I was still on my knees, but at this point I was bent at the waist so that my face was very close to the ground. Another whoosh through the air and the tenth strike hit my back. The cry I had been holding back tore out of my lips and immeasurable pain went through every inch of my back. My head pulled all the way back as I arched my back against the pain. My eyes wide open and looking directly at the horde king's intense gaze....One grey and one blue..... It was him. The male at the marketplace. He was the horde king, and I was in a load of horse shit

The exact same feelings he had enacted from my body earlier and my soul completely came over me again. I felt like he was looking into the darkest most hidden recesses of my soul. I felt vulnerable and weak and exposed, so much so that the next whip pulled a jerk out of my body but I FELT NOTHING. I was too captivated by him to feel anything else. This male was absolutely dangerous and beautiful, he would be the death of me, I fully understood that now.

I watched as he raised his hand up to stop the Pujerak from hitting me again, his eyes never leaving mine. I watched him take his first step and then the next as he walked towards where I knelt. His huge body squated in front of me as he stared into my eyes. Tears that I couldn't stop or control continued to fall from my eyes. He looked concerned and regretful, but before I could actually tell his face went blank again. He was hiding his emotions from me. His huge palm came to my face and then he gently wiped the tears from my eyes. It was the most gently thing anyone that ever done for me and I closed my eyes to soak in that touch.

"Your eyes, little lamb" he ordered, his voice thicker than usual. My eyes slowly went back open as I watched him. It was just the both of us existing in that moment, nothing else mattered.

"This union is blessed The horde king, for the human female. Your union is blessed" A voice whispered from all around us. The trees around us were dancing and the wind was wild and gentle , and I felt it like a kiss against my skin.

I watched in awe as the horde king's eyes flashed white and his eyes widened in shock. I knew then that my eyes were doing the exact same thing

"The goddess Kasia" he and I both whispered at the same time.

I gasped and pulled back, not sure what had just happened but knowing for sure that we had just heard the voice of our goddess. The next few events happened in a rush that I couldn't think straight. The horde king quickly went around me and untied the ropes on my hand. He also gently removed the robe and threw it aside. It was soaked through with my blood and had torn in several places. The horde king then as gently as he could, being careful of my back picked me up in his arms and pressed my face into his neck. I pulled in a deep breathe and his scent surrounded me. Manly, musky...with a gentle hint of sandalwood. Suddenly all the chaos inside me went quiet. I knew then that I didn't want him to put me down, I also knew that I was in a lot more trouble than I bargained for.

The horde king barked several orders as he walked away and suddenly everyone went into action to do his bidding. His steps were quiet but horried and I noted that we were walking back into the palace. I didn't know what was happening and I was too weak to think...I let his scent pull under the clutches of sleep....and then I was dead to the world.

KING AKHIR, THE HORDE KING

I walked swiftly through the palace, down it's halls and all the way to the back. I knew exactly where I was going to because I was connected to her, outr goddess Kasia. I was going to one of her tombs, one of the two that exists in the world. One was located here and the other in my kingdom. I needed to do this now and so I had to see here now.

A steady presence filled me and I could tell my Pujerak and my warriors were accompanying me. They never questioned my decisions and we're loyal to a fault.

I didn't know why I had felt this way about this particular female but I knew that goddess Kasia had something to do with it. So I will find out what, and I will do it now.

I held the female closer to me, her blood was silently dripping in the ground and had soaked through her while back. I felt guilt that I didn't rush her to a physician and was instead trying to feed my curiousity

Outside the palace way back was the tomb, similar in size and design to mine. I walked into the sacred place and my warriors stationed themselves outside. They knew to give me privacy when I was here.

The center of the tomb had a huge stone bath filled with eternal water. I didn't stop as I slowly sank into the water with the female. I wanted goddess Kasia to give me some answers.

She came to me immediately, almost as if he was waiting for me

"You found her" she said to me. She was air and water and sound, surrounding us.

The female shook and then slowly opened her eyes. She was awake and I could see that she knew what was happening.

"You found each other" the goddess repeated to us.

"What is happening? Who is this?" AKHIR asked

"You are mates, you will fight a great war and you will sire seven children, but only if you both make it alive....only if the world is still alive after the war" she said

"I don't understand. What war?" He asked calmly

"I cannot give you all the answers you seek now. The other part of my message awaits you in the other tomb. I will see you there" she says and then goes away

King Akhir looks down and see that the female's eyes are slowly closing backz the strength the goddess had given her to awake was gone. The female would most likely forget this even happened.

The horde king on the other hand knew exactly what to do.

A few hours earlier...

ISLA

Kingdom of Ozai...City of Armasia...The king's street

The streets were packed with moving bodies and people, chatter and noise as the people gathered around. The people were all anxious and nervous, you could feel the tension in the atmosphere as they all waited around the king's street. This was a one way street all the way from the city's gate all the way to the king's Palace...and every one of the residents had all gathered around this road to watch their arrival. Today was the day.

Today marked the three years that the Kingdom of Ozai had been at war with it's neighboring Powerful Kingdom of Xion, ruled by the most powerful horde king of their time. Today marked the end of that way...or that was what they all hoped because the horde king and his highest ranking warriors were arriving at their city today to meet with the king and to sign a peace treaty, something that they had been discussing for the last few months. They had lost many a warriors on both sides, lost women and children and homes during the long war. Finally it would come to an end today when the horde long arrived and signed the treaty with their king. They were all anxious and afraid for many reasons you will see...I will tell you why.

My name is Isla...Isla, daughter of Mirad. This is my story. For as long as I can remember, Our two kingdoms have existed and occupied the entire south hemisphere of the planet. The kingdom of Ozai, which is my kingdom and the powerful Kingdom of Xion. The kingdom of Ozai has twelve cities that make up the kingdom....it's capital city was Armasia and that is where I was born and brought up. The other Kingdom, Kingdom of Xion, is the most powerful Kingdom not just in the Southern hemisphere but in all the half of the globe. It is rich in rare resources and is especially blessed by our moon goddess Kasia and hence is very influencial and wealthy. The kingdom is one of the highest ranking kingdom in all of the globes and known for its might, it also had twelve powerful cities under which it is all ruled by the powerful horde king...whose name shall not be called. He is feared and revered so, so much that I can't say his name out loud to save myself. He is a mighty warrior born in the midst of blood and war many years ago, who rose from the gore and the ashes and took the throne of Xion from his father, and led the kingdom to greatness. I have never met him, and hope I never do...not face to face atleast. I have heard too many scary stories about him to want to meet him, although today is a different scenerio. He is arriving here in our City and I can finally get to see him from a distance, get to see the male who is admired and also feared by so many. I shivered just at the thought of him, and as if I had summoned him...them....they arrived.

The people all shuffled around as their noise increased with excitement and fear, and just when I thought I would see their entrance through the gate, some stranger came and blocked my view. I was short for a girl of nineteen, but I wanted to see the horde king and this was the only chance I would ever have to see someone whose stories had kept me awake at night as a child. I was out here by the king's street with the rest of the people and wanted to catch a glimpse of the horde king as he walked by.

Out of nowhere there was a sudden increase in the noise of the people "I see the entourage! He is here!" Shouted someone on the crowd and then everyone began shouting and shuffling trying to see him.

One second I was standing in my toes trying to catch a glimpse and the next second I was down on the ground as someone pushed me from behind. I huffed in frustration and wiped at my hands to remove the dirt and then I realized also that everyone and everywhere had gone quiet... too quiet. I slowly made my way up and stood up to see what had caused the thousand of people standing to go this silent. I found out why when I saw them...The Rokhans...the Xion Warriors.

I don't know exactly what it was but I felt my skin prickle and goosebumps went all over my body, I felt as if someone or something was watching me. I immediately looked around the crowd but nothing was out of place. Nothing extra that is...the feeling didn't shift or move as I stood there watching the rokhans

Among the many rare phenomenons that the kingdom of Xion had over all other kingdoms were The Rokhans. A rare species of males, warriors whom had been blessed by our goddess Kasia, goddess of virility and strength, goddess of moon lycans. She had blessed the Rokhans with strength far greater than a normal males, speed and virility and also, she had blessed them with the ability to shape shift into lycans... they were alpha males, alpha warriors, these were the Rokhans. The most feared warriors in all the regions, and the horde king was thier king, he was thier commander, he was their ruler. Shiver went down my spine just remembering that. I couldn't have taken my eyes away from them even if I had wanted to. Hundreds of them were currently walking through the city gate into the kingdom, dressed in their traditional warriors clothes with spears and shields and swords all around them. They were at the ready and with straight cold faces walked by along the street headed for the palace.

Everyone was in awe as we watched the Rokhan entourage as they walked by until they had all passed where I stood. It wasn't until they had all passed by and I blinked before I realized that I hadn't seen the horde king. I was so engrossed in looking at the warriors that I hadn't paid attention to where he had stood amongst them and I had missed him....Shet.

"Isla! Isla" I heard my brother call from afar. His voice was frantic and I wondered how long he had been looking for me. I had been gone from home for a few hours and I needed to get back. I looked back at the street and caught the last view of The Rokhans before they returned a corner and disappeared. I hadn't seen the horde king like I wanted to. Disappointment made my breathe catch and I breathed through it. He was supposed to be with his entourage today, he should be in the kingdom and in the city. He had to be! I was going to find a way to see him. I just had to.

"Isla!" My brother screamed again as he squeezed through the people searching for me. I turned away from the street and headed to where I heard his voice.

"Arlo!" I called out to him as I got closer. I stood and waited for him to find me and then he rushed to where I was, he was breathing a little hard

"I knew I would find you here" was the first thing my seventeen year old brother said with a huge smile on his face

"I knew you could find me here too" I replied with a smile of my own "Is father awake? Is he looking for me?" I asked him

"No. He is resting" replied my brother

I pulled him to me and slung my hands over his shoulder as we walked back home

"Have you had something to eat?" I asked him. It was almost noon

"Yes. Dried meat that you brought yesterday" he nodded

"Alright. Go home and stay with Father. I need to quickly check in something and then find some food for us to eat later okay?" I said to him as we got close to our small home

He nodded and then pulled away from me as he ran the rest of the way and then into our house. I watched him the entire time and then once I saw him enter the house I turned away and look up at the palace far away atop a hill on the southern side of our city. Time for me to get to work.