Page 125 of Pretty Little Prey
Bastille continued smugly, “What’s it like to know I had our mate’s pussy wrapped around my cock before you? The king who has everything.”
Daxton replied, “At least my future wife knows I won’t use hypnosis to get her to touch me.”
Fury struck him as Bastille flashed his fangs at Daxton. “You dare court my wrath?”
“You are inmyhome.”
Abruptly, Bastille stated, “I call for a contestation.”
Chapter 49
“Icall for a contestation,” Bastille said suddenly, speaking the words loudly for many to hear.
All six of the men seemed to have palpable reactions. Heavy blinking. A stumble backward. A hitched breath—a form of masculine gasping.
Chills ran up the length of Luna’s spine even though she had no idea what a contestation meant.
Daxton’s face went slack with shock. “Youwhat?”
“I call for a contestation.”
Daxton shook his head, his perfect, slicked back hair staying in place, as he blew out a breath. “That is an archaic rule. A barbaric one.”
“But it is a rule. An honored, ancient one. It must be followed.”
But what does it mean? Luna wanted to ask.
Daxton took a step forward, closer to Bastille. “Think about this. Think about the prophecy. Youtrulywish for a contestation?”
Whatever it was, the idea of one made Bastille hesitate. He inhaled. Exhaled. He glanced at Luna, gaze burning into hers, searching for something there. Finally, he replied slowly, “Yes.”
“What does that mean?” Luna asked softly.
Daxton said uneasily, “It means the groom and the council member who contests the marriage enter into a duel.” He pursed his lips on an exhale. “To the death.”
“What?” Luna asked, shaking her head. “That’s ridiculous.”
“It is an ancient tradition. A true law.”
“It started after rival shifters kept marrying their enemies’ mates in retribution,” Nikolai stated in a solemn, defeated tone. “Contestations are as sacred as matehood.”
“It must be honored,” Daxton whispered, appearing pained to admit such a thing.
“You’re not just going to kill each other,” Luna stressed, but each of the men’s expressions had gone serious and grave, as if they already accepted that, by the end of the night, the Dark King or the Light King would be dead and gone. “No,” she repeated.
“Do not worry for me, little mate,” Daxton said, touching the tender skin of her arm.
“It will be over quickly.” Bastille nodded, staring intensely at the dragon king.
“No,” she exclaimed again. “No one is going to die.”
“It’s an immortal law. It must be honored,” Daxton stated, speaking pointedly at Bastille as he added, “Unless the one who contests it takes it back.”
Luna looked to Bastille, silently pleading with him to denounce his contestation.
Instead, the basilisk shifter shook his head and said, “Let’s do this.”
“Why?” She shoved at his chest, finally causing him to break his gaze from Daxton.
