chapter 9


    Regan POV


    As I approach the balcony on the top level that overlooks the maze, I can hear Zeke arguing with our


    father. Stepping out onto it, it bes abundantly clear something has ticked Zeke off because he’s


    furiously ring at our father. Lyon stands leaning against the wall near the bird feeders, watching with


    a look of disinterest. Such a Lyon thing to do. I swear, he cares little for anything but getting his cock


    sucked or tormenting our brother. He knows better, for the most part, not to push my buttons; it will only


    end in him being pummeled from an inch of his damn life, Zeke however he likes to tempt death with


    asionally.


    It takes a lot to rile Lyon up, yet Zeke always finds a way to get under his skin and Zeke seems to think


    doing such a thing is a game, which is why those two have such an on-and-off rtionship. One minute


    they get on fine. Next, they are plotting against each other. Either way, both of them are snakes.


    “What''s this about, father? Mchi said you changed the Maze Games this year,” I ask, falling heavily


    into the chair surrounding the metal fire pit. A server brings me a whiskey, and I take it while watching


    as my father shakes his head at a raging Zeke and waving him off. My brother''s temper has always had


    a short fuse, but never towards our father, so something has irked him to no end.


    “This is some fucking bullshit,” Zeke growls as my father takes his seat across from me.


    “Shelley, dear, can you get me a ss of water?” my father asks the server girl that I see now Lyon is


    eyeing off. I raise an eyebrow at him when his gaze meets mine. He smirks, knowing he is caught


    checking out histest victim. The human girl scampers off to do my father''s bidding, and my father


    leans back in his chair.


    “Zeke, sit down and stop getting your panties in a wad, boy.” my fathermands. Zeke mutters


    something which makes my father scowl but is out of earshot for me to hear.


    “You’re changing the maze games this year. We noticed there are no male contestants, and I want to


    know why.” I state, sipping my drink. Zeke scoffs and shakes his head before snatching his drink from


    his frightened server who jumps her hands trembling as she holds the tray.


    “Yes, I have made some changes. You boys willpete in the games this year.” I nearly drop my


    ss at his words and choke on the mouthful I just took.


    “Excuse me?”


    “Now you know why I am pissed off, yet the old fool wouldn''t tell me why until you arrived,” Zeke says


    dismissively.


    “Are you looking to hire us within the castle, father?” Iugh. This is ridiculous. The maze is held each


    year. People couldpete, or as a punishment for hiding out, they were chucked into thebyrinth.


    Those that survived were given jobs within the Kingdom. Those that died are not worthy. Though no


    one has survived the maze in over thirty years, so this year will be no different.


    “No, Regan. You will not bepeting for a ce inside the Kingdom. You three will bepeting for


    my throne.” he states just as Shelley returns. She hands my father his drink, while Lyon pushes off the


    wall to join us, clearly shocked by this information.


    “Your throne?” Lyon asks, confused. Neither of my brothers are worthy of the position. They can barely


    run their own Kingdoms. My father holds power over ours, but I am the fucking oldest, so this


    information has me seething, and why the sudden rush?


    “I want to stand down.” my father continues. “So what has this got to do with uspeting in this


    ritual?” Lyon demands.


    My father sighs heavily, his eyes moving to each of us. “You boys have beenpeting for this


    Kingdom your entire lives. None of you are worthy.” My father states, and I scoff.


    “Something funny, Regan?”


    “I have been running my Kingdom and yours for a fucking century, and you want to pull this shit? You


    dare tell me I am not worthy!” I snarl.


    “That may be so, son. But your temper and barbaric ways make me hesitant to hand over the highest


    seat in the four kingdoms. Zeke is an alcoholic–”


    “Oh, here we fucking go again,” Zeke groans, having been scolded for his drinking problems plenty of


    times.


    My father shoots him a look. “As I was trying to exin, Zeke can barely manage his Kingdom''s


    people, let alone run it. Lyon is oblivious to today''s politics. I don''t know where your mother and I went


    wrong, but you three are a pack of damn savages. Not one of you is worthy of my throne, and not one


    of you has even a sliver of humanity left,"


    “Duh, because we aren’t human!” Zeke retorts, waving his ss at the server wanting a refill. My father


    rubs his temples in frustration. “Goddess help the Kingdom if that fool wins.” my father mutters.


    Zeke mutters a curse under his breath at my father’sment, and secondster my father''s fist


    Zeke jump to his feet.


    “You listen here, boy; I am sick of your snidements. I am the ruling monarch, and all of you will


    way I can think of to choose. You do not have to like it, but you will ept these terms or forfeit your


    rights!” my father bellows.


    This is ridiculous. I shake my head, sculling the rest of my drink. "So, what are the rules?” I ask him,


    wanting to get this over with already.


    My father calms down and leans back in his chair. “Since you allck humanity when the women enter


    the maze, the sole winner will be offered a prize. One that has never been offered before.” my father


    states, looking at us.


    When the sliding door opens, Shelley is the only server that doesn''t shriek when our wolves proudly


    step onto the balcony. We have had them since they were pups. There were originally four, but when


    my mother died, hers died with her protecting her.


    We identally stumbled across a den, and the mother attacked. We killed her only to find four pups


    inside. My father forced us to raise them as a punishment for sneaking into the woods. Now the four


    pure white wolves have be our pets—amazing creatures, intelligent and just as savage as we are.


    Lyon whistles and Shadow rushes over to him, dropping at his feet. Hunter, Zeke''s wolf, strolls over


    casually, taking his spot at Zeke''s, and I click my fingers, pointing to the floor for gnash toe to me.


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    Obediently, he does, resting his head on myp.


    “If only you cared for your Kingdom as much as you did your pets, this wouldn’t be an issue,” My father


    states, and I roll my eyes. “The maze?” I demand, watching him.