Queen of the Lycan - Karina Espinosa (bill gates book recommendations .TXT) 📗

got lost in the mail, little wolf!” Fenrir yelled from the top of the stairs, his sonorous voice booming through the room. To my knowledge, this was the first time he had shown himself in front of anyone else besides Bash.

Fenrir strolled down the steps without a care in the world. Royal guards approached, their swords raised and ready to attack, but they were no match for the winged women or the first wolf. Not even close.

“Stop!” I shouted, and the guards halted without hesitation. “Everyone stand down!”

Fenrir grinned. “Good call, little wolf.”

I started to move away from the throne, but Alexander gripped my arm to stop me. “Mackenzie, no!” His gray eyes flashed silver and he turned to Fenrir in anger. I placed my hand over Alexander’s and lifted his hand from mine.

“Let me handle this,” I whispered. Reluctantly, Alexander nodded his head stiffly. I pushed past Lucas and the guards who had swarmed to our side, pausing for a moment to look over my shoulder at Bash, who was just inches behind me, following me. His blue eyes glowed with his wolf and his jaw ticked in anger. I looked to Liam and the other guards standing off to the side and yelled, “Restrain him!” as I pointed to Bash. The growl that erupted from him made the room shake, but I ignored it as I turned my back on Bash. It hurt to do it, but I couldn’t let Fenrir hurt my mate or use him to get to me. Without looking, I heard the commotion of guards trying to restrain Bash.

He may not have understood it, but this was something I had to do for myself. For my people.

I turned my attention back toward Fenrir, who now stood in the middle of the ballroom floor in a wide-legged stance. The crowd inched away from him and darted terrified glances at the warrior women standing sentinel beside him. I approached him slowly, stopping about ten feet away. I felt the royal guards hovering just behind me.

I stared him down. “What do you want, Fenrir?”

He clasped his hands in front of him and shrugged nonchalantly. “Easy. I want my people. They worship a false messiah.”

I snorted derisively. “And let me guess – you’re the true one?”

He gave a jaunty smirk. “Well … I am a god.”

I heard a chorus of startled gasps and a low buzz of chatter from the mass of people in the room.

Lucas suddenly charged forward from the crowd. “What’s going on? What is he talking about?”

This time, I did roll my eyes. I ignored Lucas and the curious gazes of both the American and European Summits. They didn’t have a clue what we’d been dealing with, and frankly I knew they didn’t care.

“We don’t worship anyone,” I corrected. “Especially not you.”

Fenrir chuckled and started to circle me. “I’ve done my homework on you, little wolf, and I must disagree. The lunas worship you. That is no secret.”

“So what? You’re jealous? Boo-hoo, dude. Go cry to your daddy.” I said as I looked over my shoulder at the circling wolf.

Fenrir growled but didn’t attack; he just kept walking in a steady circle around me. “I don’t get jealous.”

I snorted. “Sure sounds like you are. It also sounds like you want to rule over a people who have no idea who you are. Never have. It doesn’t work that way, Fenrir. You might be Lycan, but you’re not one of us.”

He stopped before me and glared. The teasing glint in his eyes from earlier completely disappeared.

“Let me just end her, Fen,” Raven pleaded from behind him.

I didn’t even recognize her in all that armor. This time, I growled. I had my own score to settle with her. That bitch almost killed me in the forest.

My intentions must have been written all over my face because Fenrir smiled and shook his head. “No, Raven. The little wolf is mine.” He stepped back and gave me space.

I supposed he wanted to fight.

There was no way I could win a fight against Fenrir – I knew that. But I also couldn’t shy away from this challenge in front of the Lycan on the day of my freakin’ coronation. If I was truly their Queen, I had to prove to them why.

I carefully removed the crown from my head and held it out for someone to take, not paying attention to who it was. I kicked off my heels, leaned down and picked up the hem of my dress, and ripped a slit up to my thigh for better maneuverability. I stood up straight and released my claws and canines, going into a half shift and letting out a loud growl that rumbled the foundations of the castle.

Fenrir narrowed his eyes on me. “You have many who would fight for you.”

I smirked. “Yeah, but I’m the Queen. That means I will defend my own people. Take note.” I brought my right leg back and stood in a defensive stance.

“Very well, little wolf.” Fenrir shrugged out of his tuxedo jacket and tossed it aside. With a growl, he morphed into a half shift and charged.

I ran to meet him halfway and ducked just as he swung out with his claws in a wide arc, the tips barely grazing my abdomen. I slid on my knees and popped up behind him, digging my claws into his back and dragging them up through his flesh as I stood. He roared and jabbed his elbow into my face and I stumbled back, reaching for my bloody nose, knowing it was broken.

Without hesitation, he landed several punches to my stomach with enough force to make me slump forward, then grabbed me by the neck and lifted me off the ground, my bare feet grazing the marble floor. My breaths were ragged and harsh, and my ribs screamed in agony from all the hits I’d taken to the abdomen. With a sickening grin, he slammed me down on the marble floor, my head bouncing from the