Luna of the Beastly Lycan King

Chapter 10. A pledge of Loyalty

☉FENRIR

I was not familiar with the sort of fantasy life that this Finarfen might have enjoyed, but I was not going to endanger myself by frolicking with weaklings. It was beneath me, and even if I was strong—stronger, even—than most of the inhabitants of this world called Cynthros, there was absolutely no point wasting my life over some wretched wench like herself.

Life was battle; to live was to fight, and I had trained myself up in the knowledge of battle for too long to suddenly surround myself with death.

I was Finarfen right now, prince of Cynthros and Alpha, and after the Battle of Rites which I had already won, I was in line to be coronated as king. Then I would possess ultimate power in this realm.

After which I would find a way to return to my own realm, and Tahlia and Archibald would have hell to pay.

It was beyond fate. I had the blessings of the Goddess. Why else would I be reincarnated into the body of this person who held so much promise, so much potential…? Oh, there was so much I was going to do. But first—

“My prince.”

Andras.

I did not need to turn around to answer him. “What plagues you, Andras?” I questioned as we walked. Before the red-haired had arrived upon that hall, we had been in the middle of talks. The others had seemed astonished by my power. I had been angry, and it had been dreadfully boring watching those two struggle for their lives. It was just a stag. A ceremonial stag.

There was nothing else to it other than the fact that the people of this realm were absurdly weak, for all of their advancements. But I was still ignorant of so much about them. I would watch and observe. Closely.

Beside me, Andras’s expressionless face told no story, but his body movement, in the way that he hefted his shoulders even above the breastplates of his ceremonial armor, and the way his chest seemed to contract and expand with every step that he took seemed to dictate that he was tense.

“I wonder… your speech at the hall…” he trailed off. I understood what he meant. He was worried that the others might begin to perceive me as a threat, for surely, what I had intimated might not at all have left much room for consideration or even pondering.

Everybody present there had heard what I had said about the strong and the weak, even though it was mostly focused on the benefit of the red-haired Danika. Her frame and weak will absolutely disgust me, and I could not ever bear to have the thought of saving her presence in front of her. No matter what kind of fantastical delusion she might have been wrapped in with this Finarfen fellow.

I would quickly establish in her head that I was not him. I hoped my actions were not too off-course yet. But in due time, I planned to mandate it in the minds of every single citizen of Cynthros. They would know.

Power was the absolute thing in this world. The power to make life. The power to take life. The power to make war and take revenge on those who have caused you pain and grief, and death…

“Some of the others seemed to be in deep consternation over the matter at the hall. I am certain that the lady Danika would not have taken kindly to your treatment, either.”

I regarded Andras from the side of my vision. “Danika is weak.” A fact.

Fergal had made no sound since, walking faithfully in step with me, but it was obvious that he was seething with rage. His face, since I had been reborn into this world and this body, never shifted from the look of intense loathing for my person, even now, after I had brought him into my service. He would kill me at the least opportunity that presented itself. It made me smile, knowing that I had brought him under me for that selfsame purpose—to root him out the minute he tried to move against me—but Andras was the real mystery here. As far as I was concerned, he was unreadable. Perfectly so.

“And what did you think?” I asked, intending to test my theory about Andras.

“I am in service of you person, my prince. I am sworn to you, no matter what.”

Just as I thought. He would neither reveal anything about himself, nor give me any direct answers about questions that pertained to him. A true master at the art of concealment. By stating that he was in my service, he had neither stated that he promoted nor reproofed my actions.

I made a mental note to observe him with more scrutiny.

“Tell me, Andras, since my Beta, Fergal is not prone to much talk, what happens if the others do not take liking to too many of the decisions that I make?”

“Well, my Prince,” he began, still in that same expressionless voice. I had to laud the mettle that the lad possessed. Even I would have had little difficulty in keeping all of my thoughts under a mask. “It has never been known to happen in Cynthros before, but in the eventuality that such a thing should ever happen, I believe that should it ever come down to it, those others would be entitled to effecting a new leadership by method of the invoking of the Battle of Rites again.”

“So if I do or speak much of that which they fancy not, they would take my head for it?” I laughed, earning a curious look from Fergal. “Interesting.”

Andras was going to be very useful to me. I needed to know and understand as much Cynthronian culture, history, and every relevant knowledge about them. I was soon going to be their king, after all.

I pushed open a door that led into a wide antechamber. This Cynthros had a lot more rooms and halls than where I had originally come from. The place was empty, and save for the abundant growing plants that covered the entire area, it was quiet and cool. I needed to test my theory. I turned to both Andras and Fergal, the door firmly shut behind us.

I could imagine the thoughts that were running through their minds. In my previous life, I had had no need for this kind of theatrics. I had completely known everyone around me, and they had trusted me too. Or so I had thought. Then Tahlia had run her dagger through my chest.

I was going to take no more chances. The only people I would have around me were those who were strong, not just physically, but were strong in mind. Those who had the power and the hunger to achieve their goals, or at least die trying.

The stench of weakness would never again be found near my dwelling place. I would offer no space for weak or tired or pining, foolish hearts. Only strength. Only the strong would survive.

“Do you trust me?”

Fergal shifted uneasily, eyes pinned on me; Andras smiled coyly. “I was sworn to you from the time when I was a child. You have been good to me, my Prince. Even now. In all the times that we have moved together, I have never once known you to be untrustworthy. With my life, my prince. I trust you.”

Andras knelt on one knee. Then said, his voice half-breaking in laughter. “But some of your actions, I do not trust so much.”

Brilliant boy. I guffawed, genuinely pleased, and slapped hands with Andras. I pulled him to his feet and turned to Fergal.

I could not say for sure that I was trustworthy. I had done more than a few things in my previous life that were not worthy of praise, and there were things I did that were even less worthy of the trust others had had in me.

But I could trust Andras. I just knew that no matter what happened, he was going to stay by my side. He had the undeniable smell of loyalty. He would die for his Alpha, for his Prince. And me? Well, I would try to do just exactly what I could to ensure that he did not lose his life on my behalf. It was a terrible, powerful thing to have people die on your behalf, especially for causes they do not understand or agree with.

Fergal was still stiff, standing straight and rigid. He wouldn’t meet my eyes, but when he did, only hatred shone in those depths. I could have laughed out loud. Making him my Beta had been the best decision I had made since becoming Finarfen.

“This is pointless,” Fergal said and turned away. “I will run surveillance, Alpha.”

I was impressed by the fact that he actually left, even though I was Alpha and he could not leave my presence unless I had ordered him to. A Beta who wanted me dead, but had been sworn to protect me.

It thrilled me to no end.

Later, when I had retired to my room, and Andras and I were alone, I had asked about Fergal and his unbelievably cheery air. Even after Andras had told me what it was that made Fergal so… I was still in awe. There was no way I was going to break this bond I had created. So early the next day, I had called him to the room where I had posed my question before them. Andras was here too.

I would test out my last theory, and I would pose my questions before them.

“Andras… Fergal…”

They knelt before me.