Chapter 11

Ronan’s POV

Lila’s shocked reaction replayed in my mind as I dashed away from the dining hall. Her brown eyes had widened when she heard about the witch's attack. There was something about her eyes, the way they flashed with defiance even when she was afraid fascinated me. She was quite an interesting character.

I hurried down the hallway, eager to grab my weapon and lead my troop out against the witch. Thinking about Lila wouldn't help matters. She stirred up things in me that I thought I had put behind me and buried centuries ago.

There was lust, yes, but even worse was this strong pull, this need to claim her as mine. Not just as my plaything but as something more. It made no sense. I couldn't explain it. It felt like a mixture of love, obsession and lust. From my time as a human, I knew these things couldn't mix.

I squeezed my fingers into a fist. I was still thinking about her and it infuriated me. All these years, I had lived through many wars, plagues, and betrayals. I had learned that human emotions were chains and one had to shed them to truly become a great leader. So I broke the chain and became the Zombie King. Yet with Lila, I was struggling with these emotions all over again. The moment I couldn't make her undead like other humans, I had been struggling with my emotions.

"Enough!" I growled. My kingdom was under attack. It was irresponsible to be thinking about a girl that was worth nothing in this kingdom.

I pushed her off my mind and focused on the enemy. I had no idea what she looked like or what was the source of her powers, what mattered was she had to be defeated. It was my duty to maintain security in this kingdom, to crush any threat, no matter how small.

I got to my personal armoury and kicked the door open. The smell of cold steel welcomed me into the room. Blades, guns and explosives hung on all the walls.

My boots thumped on the polished floor as I explored to the weapons. What should I pick to face off with a witch? A long distance weapon? Yes. But I liked to wield axes in battle too. My fingers settled on an electric axe with an in-built energy shield. If the witch hit us with a blast of magic, the energy shield would handle some of it. I knew that because I had tested the axe in battle against a warlock once before.

I hooked the ace to my waist and then grabbed a plasma rifle. It had no bullets, it was designed to shred flesh and bone. One blast of this would take down the witch if she didn't get out of the way.

“Guard!” I yelled.

A guard rushed into the chamber. "My Lord?"

"Go summon the generals. Tell them to gather a troop of our best hands in the palace yard. We have a battle on our hands.”

He bowed and then vanished into the hallway. I hooked on my steel armor and then left the armory. Yes, I was ready to defend my kingdom once again.

I imagined Lila still eating her breakfast, maybe she would have started her dance of the dead lessons now. That look on her face when she heard about the witch replayed in my mind. Was she afraid the kingdom would collapse and her life would be in danger or was she worried about me?

Why would she even be worried about me? She definitely didn't like me. I saw it in the way she looked at me, like she wanted me to fall dead. If I hadn't promised to help her sister, she would have tried to run away. Not that she would succeed, though.

"Damn it, I'm still thinking about!" I grumbled.

Even in the face of a threat to my kingdom, I still couldn't quite wipe her off my mind.

I sighed and hurried to the palace yard. The general and their troops were all waiting under the morning sun. Each of them sat on their custom combat rides. Some had mini tanks and others preferred the robot horses.

General Darius sat on his tank, a shotgun slung on his shoulder. Caius sat next to him on a robot horse. His eyes gleamed with fierce determination. I knew he was itching to attack.

I climbed onto my custom tank. “Our scouts have reported that a witch down in the south is breeding a new generation of vampires. Ones that are a threat to our existence. Right now, we will ride to her tower and put an end to her action. Are you ready to ride with me?"

"Yes!" The troops roared.

A thought crossed my mind, and I instantly announced. "No one kills the witch but me. If you capture her, bring her to me. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

“I’ve kept peace in this kingdom by crushing threats the day they rise. This witch is no different. Get yourselves ready, we reconverge in thirty minutes and ride out."

They all dispersed, most of them heading to the general armory to get more weapons.

Caius rode his robot horse over to me. “My lord, don't you think this fight is beneath you? It's just one person. A woman. Why not stay back?"

"Do you think she's less dangerous just because she's a woman?"

"No, I mean, let me lead the troops," Caius said. "The kingdom needs its king safe."

I chuckled. “You think I would hide in my castle while my soldiers fight for me? No. Never. My job is to lead.”

"I understand. Now, I'm curious. Why don't you want us to kill the witch? You've never asked us to bring an enemy back alive. Are you already tired of the human in his residence and in need of a replacement?"

My nose flared. "I want her alive because that is my decision. Are you questioning my decision?"

"No, my lord," Caius bowed, but I still saw that flicker of defiance in his eyes. “As you command, so shall it be."

I watched him turn his horse around and ride back to his position. I didn't trust him. Never have. He was too calculative, always watching, always probing. I hated the way he looked at Lila, the way he touched her face. Merely thinking about it set my blood boiling. She was mine. And someday, I would make him pay for touching her. But for now, I needed him.