Lycan King Joaquin

Chapter 7

Rocky stared in the direction of the castle he had planned to attack last night but L.Q. didn't arrive, just arrived, and it’s almost daybreak and Parry still hadn’t shown up. Rocky is beginning to believe Parry has changed his mind. This makes him furious because they have been planning to take over the castle for years.

L.Q tells him Apex left his bar last night and has returned and isn’t answering his or anyone else’s calls. He smirks, looking at Rocky cussing and threatening to kill anyone that has killed his cousin. So he decided to add more fuel to the fire. “My source says Joaquin and Byron were there that night."

“I’ve warned Apex don’t go after the high and mighty Lycan King Joaquin Gonzalez without me. No damn wonder he hasn’t called me back. Hell, I thought he was on one of his getaways with a she-wolf like he usually is. So, I didn’t think anything of it.” Rocky clenched his fist. “That damn Parry ass better be here tomorrow. If not, we’ll attack without his scary ass.” He was taking his cell phone out to make a call.

Jaskier chuckles at Rocky and points to L. Q. "Man, you’re wrong for doing that crap."

“I know, but Rocky has always been easy to piss off. It's fun watching him make a fool of himself. Besides, I didn’t lie.” L.Q. laughed.

Rocky has called Vex, Blink, Crocell, and Exu and all of their calls go straight to voicemail. He knew last was the night of their weekly poker game. After he couldn’t reach them, he called Cahir, Crocell’s older brother, to find out if he had heard from Crocell. Rocky also tells him Joaquin and Byron might be responsible for the five men missing. Right before hanging up, he informs Cahir they're attacking the Lycan King tomorrow night and gives him their location. Cahir said he'd be there. “That’s what I’m talking about, the bastard Joaquin, and that damn Byron isn’t going to know what hit them.” He frowned, looking at a few of his men. “Not too long ago did anyone else see a shadow on the ground that seemed like it was coming from over our heads?”

“Yep, but when I looked up there wasn’t anything there. Spanky opens a beer and gives it to Rocky.

Rocky drinks a few sips of the beer. "It was probably an owl. A large ass owl." He glances up at the sky.

****

Byron's on the porch replaying his and Delilah's conversation. "Joaquin, you have to explain to me what is going on here." He's looking at Hagen, Riggins and the men return to report to him. Hagen confirmed that Rocky was in Kinghaven. He’s not alone. L.Q was seen in neutral territory a little bit before they arrived in the city.

“They must be the bastards Delilah was speaking about,” Byron mumbled. Riggins looks at him confused. “Aren't they asleep?”

Byron shook his head. "She wasn’t. Get this she said she was patrolling."

All three men laugh until they see Phylicia and Starr walking toward the porch. “Those damn women haven't come past me.” Byron mumbles and scratches his head.

“What?” Hagen cut his eyes at Byron and looked back at the two women.

“Man, they just show up out of the blue. Our queen is a witch." Byron pointed at Starr and Phylicia with his head. “They and the other two are humans. They live in a cage sometimes.”

Riggins, looking at the closed windows of the castle. “That’s impossible.”

“I don’t know what the hell is going on. But keep your distance from Starr. She’s the one in the pale blue and is man-hungry as hell." Byron whispers.

Hagen and Riggins are now focusing on Starr. "Gotcha you."

“We should have some dead visitors tomorrow night. That is unless they change their minds. Phylicia sat beside Byron and pointed at the two men who were staring at her with their mouths open. "What's wrong with them? Oh, we haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Phylicia and that's Starr. Now, if you will all excuse us, we have things to do. Morning patrolling has never been our forte."

Starr's looking at Riggins and winks at him. He turns his head, looking at a bird in a tree. She chuckles and thinks, "Your handsome ass has no clue that you'll be mine soon."

"Girl come on here." Phylicia grabs Starr's hand. "Oh, before I forget L.Q. is the one that Delilah told you about. Parry and Cahir haven't arrived yet."

"Okay," Byron, Hagen, and Riggins nodded, watching them walk inside the house.

“Byron, you were right. Can either of you explain to me how they got that damn close to those assholes and don’t get caught?”

Hagen says as soon as the door closes behind Starr, Phylicia. "Riggins, man, watch yourself. If not, you'll be in Starr's web."

“Starr is a beautiful young woman. But not for me.” Riggins repeatedly shakes his head.

“Hell, if I know I’m waiting for Joaquin to come out of their love chamber. He and our new Queen aren’t coming out until tomorrow. Maybe. His ass is making up for lost time. I guess waiting two hundred years before having s*x would do that to anyone. Byron can't get how the women keep leaving. He doesn't see them. “Maybe they went out the front door."

****

Early Joaquin had told Helga to bring breakfast for him and the Queen. Francemia tried to get out of bed, but he pulled her back. She's moaning when there’s a knock on the door. Francemia looks at the door, then at Joaquin pulling the bedding off his head. He looked at the door and kissed her inner thigh, then got out of bed, slid a robe on, and sat on the bed while saying "Come in."

Helga's eyes went right on the beautiful young lady whose neck her king is kissing. Helga bowed to Francemia as Joaquin introduced her to their Queen and then rushed her out of the room. But not before telling her they would have a light lunch around twelve thirty. Tonight he's taking the Queen out to dinner.

Francemia's looking at a tray with a pitcher of sparkling pomegranate mimosa, prosciutto-baked eggs, ricotta toast, and a carafe of coffee. Joaquin poured the coffee. "I hope today goes by slow as hell. I'm not ready to share you with anyone yet.

She giggles and then sighs. "You want to know about my parents. There isn't much to tell. My father was a warlock and my mother was a Hybrid. A witch and vampire. They were killed by vampire hunters and a witch one night. Somehow, the witch bound my parent's powers and right before the witch and the vampires stormed into our house my father threw me out a window and told me to run and, don't look back. I ran to a family friend's house and told them what was happening. When they arrived, my parents were dead. The family are humans, and they raised me as their daughter. So, I kept my scent like a human to keep them and their family safe. When I turned eighteen, I was sent to a secluded island because I wasn't going to be there to protect them while I was hunting those that were responsible for my parent's death." She's wiping her tears.

Joaquin puts the tray on the night table, hugs her, and then cups her face. "We'll find the son of bitches and kill them together. I promise you they will pay dearly." He kisses her forehead thinking about ways to kill the bastards that made his mate cry.

.