The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(55)

Luca growled. “Are you telling me what I think you’re telling me?”

Petro nodded. “Yes, bluntly, that it isn’t just the silk-worms that are being farmed, the humans to work them are also being produced.”

Kit put down his glass shakily, suddenly regretting having eaten anything at all.

“The leader of the rebel group is named Christoph Tor. I was told he lost his son in the massacre and he has vowed to kill any and all werewolves he encounters.”

Luca blew out a long breath. “Things are worse than I feared.”

Kit listened, took a sip of water, and glanced at Sascha. Sascha was staring again.

Kit smiled. “You’re gonna give me a complex.”

Sascha blushed and eyed his father, but Kit didn’t think they were listening. Daniel was describing the safest route to cut through to get to the capital.

“Are you going to tell me what’s up or am I gonna have to guess?” Kit whispered.

“Father, do you mind if I take Kit to show him the gardens?” Petro shook his head and Luca nodded his approval. Kit knew full well the gardens were an excuse. Sascha helped Kit stand. He was glad to stretch his legs and he wasn’t sure how much more of the conversation he could listen to without being physically sick. Kit followed Sascha out of the large dining room and down a corridor. Sascha didn’t speak until they got to a small recessed door. He paused. “Can I trust you?”

“I think you already made that decision bringing me here,” Kit pointed out.

“I kind of did, didn’t I?” He opened the door out into a small terrace garden. Kit jumped slightly as he saw a shadow move to his left.

“It’s okay,” Sascha said encouragingly out into the darkness, and out of the shadows stepped a young man. Sascha held out his hand and the young man ran to him, clasping the hand as if his life depended on it.

Kit smiled in understanding. He would guess that the man was human. Sascha wasn’t anywhere near as big as Luca but he was still a tall and powerfully built werewolf. The man currently tucked into his side was anything but.

“Kit, I would like you to meet Darrin. He is my mate.”

Kit smiled and held out his hand. Darrin eyed Kit cautiously. Kit would have put both him and Darrin at around the same age, but Darrin was taller than Kit with pale skin and fair hair. Darrin put his head to one side and extended his own arm. Kit understood all the envious looks Sascha had been giving him, and decided to jump right in. “Your dad seems reasonable, Sascha. He knows I’m male and human. I’m not even licensed. Why can’t you tell him?”

Sascha sighed and waved to some chairs. Kit sank into one gratefully, peering at his feet. He’d only been half joking when he’d told Luca they were swollen. His little toe looked a bit puffy...

“My dad isn’t the problem,” Sascha finally responded.

“It’s mine,” Darrin said quietly and took a breath. My name is Darrin Tor and my dad is leader of The Human Alliance.”

Luca had been right, Kit thought. Things were definitely worse than he feared.





Chapter Sixteen





“Why does your father still think you are dead?” Kit asked when he had recovered from the shock.

“I panicked,” Darrin said haltingly.

“We met accidentally over a year ago,” Sascha said, taking Darrin’s hand as they sat down. “We share an interest in horses.” Kit saw the wobbly smile from Darrin. “In that I’m terrified of them, and Darrin loves them.”

“You seemed to be an able rider, though,” Kit said. He’d woken up in the cart and watched Sascha escort them inside.

“I fell off when I was thirteen and knocked myself out. I wasn’t able to shift and heal for some hours and I had broken a bone. It mended, but it pains me sometimes, and it cured me of a fascination with horses. Anyway, long story short, as I got older I knew I was going to have to conquer this ridiculous fear. I couldn’t be Alpha and not lead my people, so I decided to fight fire with fire and took my father’s most rebellious stallion into the fields, some distance away from where our gammas patrolled. I fell off twice before Darrin couldn’t bear to watch me any longer and came out of his hiding place.” Sascha paused. “Best day of my life.” He lifted Darrin’s hand to press a kiss on his palm.

Kit’s heart warmed at the look of utter devotion that passed between them.

“We met in secret for months,” Darrin continued. “Then...the last time I sneaked away...” His voice faltered and his hands trembled, and Kit immediately guessed.

“The village was attacked, and your life was spared because you weren’t there,” Kit answered.

Darrin nodded miserably. “We don’t know what to do. If our relationship is discovered, Darrin thinks his father will turn his attention to Perse.”

“The only good werewolf is a dead werewolf,” Darrin finger quoted. But it was obviously too much for him because he turned in desperation and buried his head in Sascha’s broad chest. Sascha’s arms immediately went around him.

“We don’t know what to do,” Sascha whispered.

“You tell your father.”

Everyone twisted in shock as Luca’s words registered. Sascha jumped up in alarm, but Luca walked over to them, closely followed by Sam, and Luca bent down to Kit, plucked him from the chair, and sat back down with Kit now ensconced on his knee. “I missed you,” he mumbled.