The Alpha’s Rejected And Broken Mate
Chapter 72

King Stefan POV

I stared at the messenger incredulously, my hands clenching into fists. My brown hair hung loosely on my shoulders and my brown eyes were blazing. "What do you mean, that they have taken some of our precious children?" I growled. The messenger looked everywhere but directly into my eyes, which were slowly transitioning to red.

"They have two vampire children and are claiming that they will kill them if we don't give them what they want."

"What is it that they want?"

The messenger looked nervous now, as I glared at him from my study desk, my best friend Dylan sitting in the armchair opposite me.

Dylan looked entirely too comfortable there, dressed in a leather jacket with a white shirt and jeans. There was an angry look on his face though, and I was sure that the same expression was mirrored in mine. "Out with it, man," snarled Dylan, "tell the King what it is this Alpha Rogue wants?"

The messenger swallowed hard. He looked like he would rather be anywhere but in the castle facing me right now.

"They want you, Sire," he squeaked, "or rather they want your blood as the Vampire King."

I slammed my fist down on the table and the messenger gave a strangled gasp, his body trembling in the face of my anger. Dylan was just as mad.

"You're excused" I muttered beneath my breath and the messenger didn't hesitate, hightailing it out of there, as I plonked back down on my chair and rested my chin in my two hands.

"Stefan, you can't possibly be thinking" he began, and I held up my hands.

"Dylan" I interrupted, "you can't be telling me to let two innocent children die at the hands of shifter rogues. If I have the ability to save them, then I should do it, don't you think?"

Dylan shook his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "What exactly are you proposing, because the council will never let you go? You know that, right? Especially if you don't have an heir", he continued.

Yes, not having an heir was problematic, but could I help it that I hadn't come across my mate just yet? I, unlike a lot of my kind, was waiting for my mate. Sure, I've had relationships, even long ones. I was no saint, but I had never gone so far as to propose marriage to anyone. Was it my fault if some of my exes assumed I would marry them eventually?

I looked at Dylan wryly. "Let me guess," I said angrily, "you're proposing you go instead?"

He leaned forward in his chair. "It makes better sense. You're the king for heaven's sake, the council would have a fit if something happened to you, whereas if I go, I'm dispensable."

"You're not dispensable", I argued back in a low voice, not wanting to draw attention to us both. Vampires have sensitive hearing, after all.

"Thanks," Dylan said calmly, "but you know what I meant."

"It's too risky," I told him blithely. "they'll take one look at you and kill the children on sight."

"I doubt it," Dylan said quietly, "they haven't clapped eyes on you before, so how are they going to know the difference?"

I considered it. As the King, however, I felt like I had a duty to my people and that meant to all of them, whether they were children or adults. But why my blood? What use could it be to an alpha? It made no sense to me and, judging by Dylan's look in his eyes, he had no idea either.

"My blood," I said softly, "there must be a reason they want it so badly. Don't you think? To go so far as to use children to get it."

"That's the other reason I don't want you to go. We both know that vampire blood is potent, but yours, as the king, is doubly strong and able to perform miracles. Besides, what if they don't let you go? You could end up in a dungeon or worse", Dylan continued to vent out his frustrations to me. It wasn't anything I wasn't used to. As friends we let each other know what we were thinking or feeling all the time.

"They'll know you're not the king the second they try to take your blood and use it" I scoffed with a shake of my head, my hair moving in time to it. "Then you'll end up dead along with the children. No, it has to be me." "Then I'm coming with you."

"You're needed here. Who else is going to be able to run interference for me in regard to the council?" I asked.

Dylan frowned at me. I raised my eyebrows. He sighed.

"I hate running interference. Plus, you know the council can't stand me" he added, "because I'm not a full vampire but only half of one. They think I'm an abomination."

I scowled at that. Dylan wasn't wrong though. The council did tend to look down on Dylan because he was only half vampire, his mother had been human whereas his father had been a vampire. They also didn't like it when a vampire mated with a shifter, which was few and far between with our race. I suspected it was because the council disapproved, that there were so few matches between us and different races.

I felt differently but I wasn't sure of the reason for it. I felt like we were destined to be with the one person in the whole world who was meant to be with us. It didn't matter if they were a shifter, a witch, another vampire, or a fae. As long as they loved you and you had a mate bond, then it was destiny and the council needed to change its thinking. I had been working on it, but the council was made up of elders, who were stubborn and old-fashioned, set in their ways. They needed me to find a mate and produce an heir and it was fast becoming tiresome for me, for they were talking about setting up an arranged marriage if I didn't find one soon.

I glanced down at the message that had been left for me. It was simply put, but a map had been provided of their whereabouts.

King Stefan.

We have managed to procure not one, but two innocent vampire children. We will not hesitate to kill them unless you come alone, to the map's location, and provide your blood to us. We require only your blood and will know if you try to trick us or bring anyone along with you. Unless you come, the children die. This is not a joke.

Come alone and you have two weeks to make it. After that, the children are dead and it will be your fault.

The Alpha Rogue.

I scowled at the letter. How cold-hearted did you have to be to threaten small children? As it was, we would have to locate the parents of these missing children, for none had been reported. "Two weeks" I mused, "they clearly have no idea how fast a vampire's speed is when he moves. That means he's not familiar with vampires", I said with a wicked grin.

Dylan just grimaced. "I want to come with you," he said, "but I guess I'm going to be running interference and covering your a*s, once again."

"I appreciate it," I told him sincerely, showing him the map. "What do you think of this? They just sent the coordinates like they didn't care what I did with it?"

"They are either arrogant or cocky enough to believe you won't risk the children," Dylan said, "or it's a trap."

I was leaning toward it being a trap. I mean, why else would you provide a map for Christ's sake? You would have to be an i***t otherwise. Or desperate.

A knock sounded on the door and I glanced at Dylan, hastily shoving the message and map in a drawer, shoving it hastily shut as the door swung open with a large creak.

"Come in," I said sarcastically, for they were already standing in the doorway.

I recognized the wizened face of one of the elders, Elder Mathias, who stood there looking grim-faced. He glanced pointedly at Dylan, snubbing my best friend, who scowled darkly at the man.

"I believe that this conversation would be best in private, King Stefan," said Elder Mathias, drawing himself upwards to his full height.

I sighed. Dylan just glared at the man and then huffed. "I'll see you later Stefan," he said, his eyes looking at the drawer where I had placed the message and map. I nodded tightly and watched him almost stomp from the room, slamming the door shut behind him. The elders never failed to rankle him.

"What is it you want, Elder Mathias," I said grimly, not beating around the bush.

The elder merely raised his eyebrows at my shortness, but it didn't deter him from talking. "I have just come from the latest council meeting," he said thickly, "and we must advise you that it's time that you take a wife and produce an heir to the throne." "I'm waiting for my mate" I hissed, my eyes fully glowing red now.

The elder blanched but continued on, "we feel that as King it's your duty to provide an heir to the kingdom. It has been far too long and you put the kingdom and your lineage in danger by not doing it."

"It is my decision to make" I growled.

The elder shook his head. "If you wish to remain king, then you must abide by the council. It has always been that way and it always will be. The elders have all agreed. You have two weeks to find a wife or we will find one for you."

My nails dug into the palms of my hands, drawing blood. "The council has gone too far. You are abusing your powers. I will not be forced into a marriage that I do not want."

"Your father was the same," the elder said unexpectedly, warmth flooding his tone, "but he did the right thing and found a wife. He was much like you, not wanting to get married, but in the end, he did what was right for the kingdom and so will you. Do not push us, King Stefan, for we are much older and far wiser than you."

"You dare to insult me" I growled, and the elder looked off to the side, shrugging lightly. "It is not an insult," he said, "merely an observation. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off. Please remember what we have discussed. You have two weeks, no longer, to find a wife or have one found for you."

He turned around and left as I glared daggers into his back. The second he was gone, I flung the table into the wall, wood splintering everywhere and shattering to the ground. I ripped the art off the walls and stomped on them, like a petulant child throwing a temper tantrum. I was beyond tired of this council sticking its nose into my business. Thank goodness they hadn't caught wind of the messenger and enquired about that.

Dylan came wandering back in. "Whoa," he said, seeing the destruction in the room, "what did the council do to piss you off this time?"

"They've given me two weeks to find a wife or I'll be forced into marriage" I hissed as Dylan began to laugh out loud. "It's not funny you moron."

"In two weeks' time, you'll be at that location" pointed out Dylan, "which means they can't force you into marriage until you get back. Once you're finished there, I suggest looking for a wife, otherwise, you'll be stuck with some old ugly hag that the elders think will be suitable for the position of queen."

I shuddered at the thought. But I was damned if I was going to give up on finding my mate. The council could go to hell, I thought, even if I had to be the one to send them there.