Luna of the Beastly Lycan King

Chapter 7. The hunt.

☉DANIKA

“Where are you going, Danika?” A nauseating voice called after me, “The royal seamstresses are all gathered in the great hall of the palace today. Are you going to miss your chance to get a proper dress design for the coronation?”

I halted, slowly turning around. A gaggle of maidens stood a few feet away, all frilly dresses and high-pitched giggles. A small sigh escaped me. Due to the many festivities of the palace, and the whole city, the palace, usually peaceful and quiet, was now filled with so many members of the great houses.

And with that, came animosity.

After all, I was the low-life maiden saved by the Lycan prince. I was easily accepted within the palace, but I had not realized that outsiders thought me a leech. Particularly the women who believed me an obstacle, though I could never bring myself to understand why they would see me as such.

“I'm sure a dress will be provided, I appreciate your concern.” I smiled, making to turn again.

“You seem awfully confident for someone who doesn't have a private seamstress.” One of them stepped forward, her smile growing tight. “Alpha Finarfin is going to be King soon. I suggest you grow less dependent on him and his resources and get a life of your own. Living in a palace doesn't make you one of us.”

I blinked, taken aback. Taking a proper look at her curly blonde hair, and sky blue eyes, I recognized her. The night of the Selu'myr Enthroned, she kept trying to rope Finarfin into a conversation. He had shut her down so brutally, that I had felt bad for her.

Now, not so much.

The maidens watched me, waiting for a reaction. I knew better. Without another word, I turned around and made my way as far away as possible from them. Still, I could not shake off the cold shroud of loneliness threatening to pull me to the ground. Eirin was long dead, buried along with the awful memories of that farm.

And Finarfin, the only friend I had left, was now someone I couldn't recognize. But I could not give up on him, just as he had not given up on me.

That was why I would be going with him on the hunt for The Crimson-horned Stag.

“And what nonsense, pray, did you just utter, maiden?” One of the men in the weapons’ hall asked incredulously.

The men around the room laughed, chests heaving and shoulders shaking like a maiden asking to accompany them on the hunt was the most hilarious occurrence in Cynthros' history. I straightened my shoulders, and glanced at the female hunters instead, subconsciously seeking their approval.

“I said, I'm coming with you on the hunt, Prince Finarfin,” I repeated.

This time, the female hunters joined the men in their laughter. My cheeks heated in embarrassment, but I kept my head high, refusing to cower. I knew I had no place here, but I'd always accompanied Finarfin on his many hunts, even if he never let me hurt my fingers, or soil my skin on any of the rough weapons.

He treated me like a precious prize, while still doubling over in laughter whenever my dress or hair got caught in thorns.

I could see none of that in the obsidian eyes staring down condescendingly at me, familiar yet unfamiliar all at once. He hefted the huge crossbow over his strong shoulders, his veins lining his forearms bulging.

“With the weakness, I sense from you, the Crimson-horned Stag would hunt you instead.” His voice was ice.

More laughter. Andras winced and averted his gaze, adjusting the knives ticked against his leather belt.

“My prince—” I made to protest.

“—Alpha.” Fergal, the Beta, corrected me sharply. “He is Alpha to you, Danika.”

Finarfin stepped in front of me, sparing me a look down his nose, “Do you realize how important this hunt is? Perhaps you understand what a Crimson-horned Stag is? I believe the concept might be too cumbersome for your red-haired brain, hence your foolishness.”

My eyes widened.

“Remain within the palace walls, and put yourself to good use. Do that, and I might even grant you the mercy of ignoring your forwardness—”

“—what has come over you?” I could not control my trembling voice, “I have always accompanied you on hunts—”

“Silence!” A female hunter thundered, “How dare you defy the Alpha, you insolent brat!”

“He is my best friend!” I screamed back at her. “You know nothing, so don't speak on this! I don't care about the Crimson-horned Stag! I don't care if this is some “tradition” leading up to the coronation! After all, it was one of these macabre traditions of yours that caused him to—!”

Finarfin grabbed my chin in his hand, squeezing so hard I thought the bone would break. Any more pressure and I would be in pain, but that was a line that even he, did not cross.

His narrowed eyes glared at me with so much contempt and disgust, that angry tears flooded my eyes. My breaths were heavy, brushing against his face so close to mine.

I was not sure what he was pondering upon, but his next words were definitely not what I predicted.

“Give her a bow and arrow.” He said quietly, releasing my chin. “Hunt, she will.”

It was ominous. A threat. I knew I should withdraw my words now, but I was too upset to even think clearly.

“Alpha,” Andras cleared his throat, “If I may—”

“You may not.” Finarfin slammed the rest of his words down. His eyes never strayed from mine. “Our previous encounters might have fooled you into assuming you possess certain privileges, Danika. You are neither as strong as any other, nor as smart, yet the most entitled. You will put your measly fingers to work, nock your bow, and bring me the Crimson-horned Stag.”

They all gasped. My heart dropped in dread, in fear.

That was impossible. It was cruel. There was a reason the Crimson-horned Stag was only hunted before any coronation. It was an extremely elusive and dangerous animal that only the best hunters could capture.

It was forbidden to kill it, so it had to be subdued alive as a show of strength by the Alpha, and only the Alpha. The other hunters were only there for secondary purposes.

“One strike from the Stag’s horns and the maiden is dead.” Another female hunter took pity upon me. “I believe she has awoken from her delusions—”

“I mustn't get to the Stag before you do, Danika.” Finarfin ignored her, uttering my name like it left a bad taste upon his tongue.

They sauntered out of the hall, weapons in tow. I watched them dejectedly, until the female hunter who pitied me approached. She shoved a bow and quiver of arrows into my arms, frowning in disapproval.

“You have made a grave mistake, maiden. The Alpha has more responsibilities on his shoulders than a simpleton like you could ever imagine, how dare you simplify him to a “best friend”? After the coronation, he holds ultimate power, and with that, comes maturity. Forget whatever you thought he was as a prince, and seek his forgiveness.”

“Now, I do not wish to see your skull cracked open in the wild, so I shall assist you. The Crimson-horned Stag is a cunning creature, even if its nature might suggest otherwise. Once it realizes there are hunters in its territory, it will prey on the weakest hunter. That is,” she shook her head, “...that is you, Danika.”

☆☆☆

I cursed myself.

“Sonia?” I whispered, glancing around the woods from the thicket I was hiding in. There was nothing but silence. Sighing, I hung my head down, praying to the goddess that I had not somehow gotten lost in Stag territory.

My legs cramped. My back quivered in pain. Perspiration coated my skin, and dampened my dress. My hair was unfurling from the hurried braid I had put it in. A treacherous hour in the woods, and I had lost the only person on my side.

“Stay close. Be silent.” Sonia, the hunter had warned.

I had failed at both. Yanking my dress out of an entanglement, I crept out of hiding. Without Sonia, I could not hope to continue, so I would head back to the palace. I looked around, I just had to find my way out of here…

I was so engrossed in escaping the woods, that I did not notice the bright red horns glinting under the sunlight, a few feet away.

Until I heard the ominous grunt.

I turned, to behold the Crimson-horned Stag, in all its monstrous glory. Gasping, I stumbled back and fell hard on my arse. It was a male deer with the physical form of a wild bull. Muscles bunched under its golden coat, and its blood-red horns curled thickly into the sky. Horns as thick as a tree. Steam escaped its black nostrils with each grunt.

And…its eyes were upon me.

A thick hoof dug the earth. Another grunt. Another dig. It was going to charge at me, I could tell. Trembling, I slowly reached for an arrow, but my fingers were too sweaty, too slick to get a secure hold.

It charged.

“No…!” I screamed, in horror. The arrow fell out of my grip, I tried to pick it back up, but I was trembling too hard to get a good grip. My heart was racing, and in the depths of my belly, I realized this was the day I perished.

Throwing both bow and arrow to the dirt, I scrambled up to run. Adrenaline rendered my limbs useless, so I crawled instead, looking over my shoulders to see the beast getting closer and closer, murder in its animalistic eyes.

“Do you know how the Stag’s horns remain such a brilliant shade of red?” Finarfin's voice pierced through my haze of terror. I looked to see him leaning against a tree in the shade, undetected by the beast. “It drinks the blood of its victims. It requires no meat for survival, as it is a herbivore, after all.”

“Help me!!!”

He made no move to help.

The sounds of its hooves grew thunderous. I could not outrun it. Frozen with fear, I sat in the dirt, watching the beast. It was so close now, lowering its horns so the pointy ends acted as blades for the perfect stab. Just when I believed I would be impaled by those horns, Sonia appeared from the woods.

Her arrow was fast and true, whizzing past to lodge itself in the Stag’s hindleg.