Page 76 of Hunt Me

Ye of Little Faith

Matilda sat beside Luka with a pleasant smile on her face as Alaria Marquis sneered at her from across the war room table. She was beautiful with long raven hair that fell to her lower back. It was a stark contrast against flawless, almost translucent skin. She had high, sharpened cheekbones, while her full lips remained pressed into a thin line of disapproval. Her emerald eyes were perhaps her most striking feature—bright, calculating, and fixed upon Matilda with enough contempt to make her intentions unmistakable.

Alaria was slender but not delicate. The fitted leather beneath her cloak revealed lean muscle in her arms and shoulders, and the sword at her hip looked well-worn rather than decorative.

Matilda knew the woman wanted her head on a platter with an apple shoved into her mouth, and she’d be a liar if she said she didn’t feel the same.

“I formally reject the challenge,” Luka said firmly.

“According to our ancient texts drafted by no other than Reynard Alesi, you cannot reject the challenge. The rejection of the challenge falls on the huntress,” Lawrence Marquis informed spitefully.

Matilda tore her eyes away from Alaria when she felt a nudge at her side. “Yes, my King?”

“Reject the challenge so we can go on with our lives.”

“You’d ask me to give up my right to the throne so easily? What will become of me?”

“That’s a fair inquiry. What will become of her, King Alesi? I refuse to share,” Alaria interrupted with a taunting smirk.

“Hold your tongue. You are a guest and should act accordingly,” Ezra growled. He was incensed by the sheer disrespect the Marquises displayed. He knew their interest in King Alesi was solely to prevent him from marrying a human and avoiding shame. Their bloodline didn’t deserve to grace the throne.

Lawrence Marquis’s fist slammed onto the table, sending a jagged splinter down the middle. “You will not speak to my daughter in such a manner!” he shouted in defense.

“Teach your daughter basic respect, and there would be no need. The irony of risking your life to be Queen of Night Falls while having no better tact than a drunken troll is astounding.”

“A drunken troll! I take offense!” Alaria exclaimed.

“May you choke on your offense,” Ezra snapped.

“Enough!” Matilda shouted, standing from the table. Her distinguished robes gathered around her, and she caught the hint of jealousy that festered in Alaria. Her heart beat wildly, and she hoped it boomed loud enough to cover the fluttering heartbeat of the child that grew inside of her. They couldn’t discover she was with child because she wouldn’t put it past them to make it their personal mission to end her before the baby could take their first breath. “May I pose a question, Alaria?”

“That’s Duchess Marquis to you, you filthy human,” she shrieked, standing to look down on Matilda from across the table.

“Alaria,” Matilda continued, not giving a damn about her challenger’s request for honorifics and civility. “Queen Anastasia has been deceased for over a century, yet no one has shown interest in King Alesi until now. I mean, I don’t blame you. He has a face only a blind person could love, and his personality leaves much to be desired—”

“Get on with it, Tilda,” Luka sighed, eager to get this ambush of a meeting over with.

Alaria gasped. “You will allow her to belittle you in such a manner?”

“Better her than you. Stay silent while your future queen addresses you.”

“She will never be my queen!”

“By all means, please continue with your blatant disrespect. You might find you and your household in a precarious situation,” Luka threatened, making Matilda boil with need for him. She loved it when he behaved villainously.

“As I was saying, is King Alesi grotesque and undesirable? Without question; however, I simply cannot let him go. Therefore—”

“Don’t do it, Matilda,” Luka pleaded.

“—I, Matilda Helsing, accept your challenge for the throne and title of Queen of Night Falls.”

Alaria grinned eerily at Matilda as Luka stormed out of the room. She leaned across the table and whispered, “I’ll wallow in your blood, huntress,” she threatened.

Matilda smiled brightly, confusing everyone in the room. “I expect nothing less from a blood-sucking pig.”

***

“You are foolish, Matilda.”