The Alpha King (Kingdom of Askara #1)(58)

Chapter Seventeen





“Father.” Darrin’s quiet voice came from across the clearing and Christoph’s head shot up.

“Darrin?” he said incredulously and took a step towards him. Then he stopped. “They captured you?” Christoph swung around back to Kit, his dagger raised high, fury descending on his features. Kit tried to shrink back but the guard holding him pinned his arms behind him cruelly. Sascha growled but the knife was pressed to Kit’s throat.

“No Father, no!” Darrin shouted. “Kit is my friend. He hasn’t hurt me.”

The roar that made the ground shake hurt Kit’s ears even as he could have cried with relief knowing Luca was back. The huge white wolf that charged into the clearing made Kit’s heart jolt. Christoph dragged Kit away from his man and pulled him back to his chest. The knife flashed as it was pressed to his throat. “Let my son go or your mate dies,” Christoph shouted.

The wolf bowed its head and in seconds Luca stood there in its place.

“I mean it,” Christoph threatened.

Luca opened his arms in a conciliatory move. “Darrin, go to your father.”

Darrin moved closer to Kit. “Father, I’m not a prisoner. They weren’t the ones who attacked the village. Please let Kit go.”

Christoph scoffed. “If you had been free to leave you would have found me. They captured you to taunt me after they massacred everyone.”

“No, Father,” Darrin said sadly. “I wasn’t at the village. I was meeting my mate when the attack happened and I was too scared of what you would say to tell you I was alive.”

Christoph stared at his son incredulously and let go of Kit to grab Darrin by the arm. “You let me think you were dead?”

Darrin nodded miserably. “I’m sorry.” Christoph shook Darrin’s arm angrily and Sascha jumped up, snarling, only to have a rebel step forward and threaten him with a spear. Darrin glanced back. “No, Sascha, I’m all right. Be careful.”

Christoph looked at Sascha then back at Darrin, completely at a loss.

“Can I suggest we sit and talk?” Luca asked. “You outnumber us and threaten two of our mates. I also have an injured man.” He glanced as Sam, fully human, ran into the clearing with Taheesha and headed for Asher. “We just want to talk.”

Christoph glanced back at Darrin. Kit could see him absorb the information and realize Luca included his son in that sentence. He dropped his son’s arm. Darrin deliberately took two steps back to where the fire glowed then sat down. He looked expectantly at his father.

Christoph glanced back at his men. “Watch them.” Sam gently leaned Asher back into his chest, murmuring quietly in his ear. Taheesha quickly tore strips of cloth to bind his cut.

Kit took a step forward, only to have one of his arms nearly wrenched out of his socket as Nial grabbed him quickly. He yanked Kit back into his chest and for the second time Kit was held with a knife to his throat.

Luca froze, staring in Kit’s direction. “Nial? What the fuck are you doing?”

Kit didn’t even dare swallow. Another gamma nearest Nial dropped to his knees. “Forgive me, Sire.” Nial growled at the other gamma, presumably in disgust.

Luca ignored him, not taking his eyes off Kit—off Nial. “I assume you were paid to betray us?”

Behind him, Kit heard Nial scoff. “You can’t be allowed to rule Askara. Look how soft you have been on the humans in Caedra. It’s disgusting. Paying the unlicensed humans a wage? You betray your own kind, not the other way around.”

“It’s you who’s been deliberately laming the horses,” Luca said flatly.

Christoph took a step towards him. “You did what you were paid to and delayed them until I could get here. They have not the numbers to be a threat to you. Take a horse and get out of here.”

Nial laughed and the Kit felt the sharp prick to his throat. “You might have paid me but I would have done it for free. There is no way I am letting this abomination live.”

Kit stared at Luca. Nial meant him. He was going to kill him. My baby. A trickle of fluid ran down his neck from where the knife pressed against his throat. He saw Luca’s gray eyes shimmer with worry, saw the glint in Luca’s hand in exactly the same manner as he had seen the knife in Malik’s hand at the games, and at the same time knew it hadn’t actually happened yet. Luca wouldn’t dare go for his knife while ever Nial’s was pressed to Kit’s throat. It was a sign for Kit that he had to do something.

“I’m going to be sick,” Kit said and retched. In horror and with the utmost predictability, Nial jumped back, slackening his hold, and Kit dropped like a dead weight. Grown men were often unfazed by blood, but a little vomit could send them running for the hills. He saw the flash of the knife a second before he heard the soft thud as it made its mark behind him.

Luca’s arms were around him a second later and lifting him gently. “Are you okay?”

Kit mumbled and just clung on, burying his face in Luca’s chest. He’d lied about the sickness but the thought of the knife and where it had connected wasn’t doing anything for his rolling stomach. It was the blood. Every time it was the blood.

“Kit, are you hurt?” Luca demanded. Kit shook his head.

“Asher?” he gasped. He was sure the way his heart was pounding did the baby no good.