The Werewolf King's Bride

(From Blue's Perspective)

"Are you okay?" Dem asked. I could hear Ruby's agonizing cries, sitting beside the casket.

Reece's body was handed over to his family. I wanted to apologize. It was all my fault. It all happened because I lost the first round. It did not matter that I had no idea the game had multiple rounds. In the end, Reece died because of me.

Ruby's mother was crying, but silently. Ruby's father was shaking.

"No. No, I'm not okay," I said, so no one else but Dem heard me. "But it doesn't matter. It's not about me. What I feel is nothing compared to what they feel. Reece… He died in the hands of my father, Dem.

Because of a stupid game. Because I lost the first round."

"You didn't know," Dem insisted.

"I know that. I just…"

Dion and Demian were with Evan. Dion liked Evan, but well, Demian… Demian did not like anyone other than me and Dem. And Dion. I noticed Demian being rather calm around Dion these days. Evan said he could manage, although when we left them, Demian was crying his heart out.

"I was the one who made Reece my assistant," I said. "I wanted to help Ruby's family, but really… You know, I made things worse."

Dem squeezed my hand and wrapped an arm around me. "No matter how many times I say, it's not your fault, you will not believe me," he said. "But I'm telling the truth, darling. Azure killed him to torment you in the name of a silly game. He wants you to think it's your fault. He wants to break you."

Dem was right. That was what Azure wanted.

And he was succeeding too.

I had been standing there for a long time. I talked to Reece's father, but his mother refused to talk to me. I did not blame her. I was the one who, voluntarily or not, took the life of her son.

"I will talk to her," Luc said with a reassuring hand on my arm. "We will stay here for the time being. The funeral is tomorrow. After that, I don't know. I will have to talk to Ruby about it. In the meantime, be careful.

Tell the duchess and the duke to be careful and keep an eye on their children. Who else is there? Abel, Evan. Talk to all of them and tell them to never go somewhere alone."

I wanted to laugh. Not going somewhere alone would not stop Azure from getting what he wanted. Luc was trying to be helpful anyway. I should not be cruel just because I was upset.

Azure's face flashed in my mind when he pressed hot iron on my back, marking me with the sign of a serpent; his sign. It would remain with me forever. I would have to bear his mark forever whether I wanted it or not. He used the mark to awaken my power. If he got hold of my sons, he would do the same to them. I shuddered at the thought.

"Go home," Luc said. "And sleep. Then, think clearly, Blue. Only you can know the rules of the game."

"I don't know the rules of the stupid game," I said.

"I know you don't know, but you can know"- he held up his hand when I tried to intervene. "You can and you have to. Find it out, Blue. For all of us. For your kids. For your husband.

Do it."

I gulped. I was afraid. Shit, I was afraid too much. But I gave a nod. Dem was saying something bad to Luc on my behalf. But really, Luc was right.

I had to find out. I had to, no matter what.

The count saw us to the carriage. In the carriage, I just broke down into tears. I could not handle it. All the pressure, all the expectation. Why did I just not give myself to Azure? He wanted me.

He wanted me to be his puppet. If it would save Reece, I would give myself to him.

'Not so Queen-like thinking, is it? As a Queen, I should stop blaming myself and start thinking about hot to get back to Azure. But I am not feeling like a Queen at all. All I want is curl up into a ball and weep.'

I felt a hand on my back. Dem did not say anything; he just put his hand on me just to remind me that I had him on my side.

"I know what happened upset you a lot. But Luc is right, Blue. We need to find out what to do next," Dem said.

I put my head on his shoulder and breathed deeply. His scent, so familiar, comforted me. I could press my nose against him and breath in this scent forever and never get tired.
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"I wish I did not have kids," I murmured.

Dem remained quiet for a while. Then, he said, "Is it because you fear Azure will target them?"

"He has already targeted Demian for whatever power he has. He has power because he is my son. Some kind of twisted power that Azure finds impressive." I could not keep the disgust out of my voice.

"Azure won't harm Demian or let anyone harm him," Dem said. "He wants Demian alive and well. He wants Demian's power. But Dion… We need to be careful about him. In this game, Dion is a target, not Demian."

He was right about it. Azure could not care less about Dion. He wanted Demian only. Then, he would have no problem hurting, or even killing my eldest. My hands were trembling. What would I do if something happened to Dion?

I should never have brought them into this shitty world. At least, until Azure was defeated (which I was not sure ever would happen), I should have remained childless. I had an eternity.

Dem opened the window of the carriage. I closed my eyes and let the air fall on my face, in a futile attempt to free me of my worries.