A Mate For Two Kings

Site: PocketFM

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CHAPTER 1

"It's awfully… beautiful!" Crystal squealed in delight.

Princess Crystal twirled in front of the tall ornate mirror, admiring her reflection in the sky-blue gown that flowed around her like water.

"Beautiful just like m..." Her brow furrowed suddenly, her gaze narrowing on a small, dark stain near the hem. Her eyes darted to Lyra amongst the other maids, who stood quietly by the corner, hands folded in front of her plain servant's dress.

"What is this?" Crystal snapped, pointing accusingly at the spot.

Lyra stepped forward cautiously, her eyes growing wide upon realisation. "I—I don't know, Your Highness. I didn't—"

The words barely left her lips before Crystal's hand swung across her face with a sharp crack. The force of the slap sent Lyra stumbling to the ground. "How dare you ruin my dress!" Crystal hissed, glaring down at her. "You worthless piece of trash!"

The maids around trembled in fear of having her wrath passed on them. Luckily for them, she didn't.

"I should have your hand for this mistake, you—"

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway breaking Crystal's words. The door swung open suddenly to reveal Queen Lisa.

Beads of sweat decorated her forehead as her face paled and her eyes became frantic. 

"Everyone, leave us," Queen Lisa commanded urgently in a strained voice. "Now!" The maids quickly scurried out of the room, but Crystal remained in place, her chin jutting defiantly.

"Not you," she said pointing at Lyra. 

"Crystal now's not the time." 

"Mother, she needs to be punished for this!" Crystal insisted, pointing at the stain on her dress and then at Lyra who knelt on the ground, cradling her cheek.

Queen Lisa ignored her daughter's outburst, her attention solely on the urgency of the moment. "There is no time, Crystal. The council has decided—the ti…" Queen Lisa glanced at Lyra. "Leave us. You can resume your punishment when I am done."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Lyra lowered her head before scurrying off and leaving the mither and daughter duo alone. 

But rather than flee far, she halted some steps away from the Princess's room when she heard something disturbing. 

"Mother, what is it? Why do you have to come and ruin…"

Queen Lisa's gaze changed, cutting Crystal short as she announced the dreaded news. "The time has come for the sacrifice. The vampires demand it."

Within a second, Crystal's daunting demeanour disappeared, leaving a shocked, scared young lady—her eyes widening. 

"W-What?!" she screamed, her voice breaking with panic.

"Mum, you… you can't let it happen."

Her mother's eyes glistened with tears at the situation. "I don't want to lose you either way that is why I…"

Without another word, Crystal stormed past her mother and down the long corridor toward the throne room. Her heart pounded as she pushed open the heavy double doors, ignoring the guards there.

Her gaze locked onto her father, King Lyon, his calm disposition irked her further. 

To Crystal, he was about to lose his only child but he sat there as though nothing bothered him while discussing with his ministers.

"I won't do it!" Crystal declared, her clear voice tinging with fury and a trace of fear in her eyes. "I will not go and become some sacrifice!"

King Lyon held his palm at the minister talking as all eyes darted over to Crystal. 

"Is this your love for me, father—to be tossed as a blood bank to some creepy vamp?" 

King Lyon drew in a sharp breath before dismissing his ministers. Just as they left, Queen Lisa walked in, standing by the door as she watched the exchange between the father and daughter.

"Say something, father. Answer me. Say you won't do it." Tears rushed to the surface of her eyes. 

The more she stared at her father, the harder it felt to keep up her bravado. Still, she couldn't give up. 

Clenching her fists at her side, Crystal continued, "You can send someone else, father—someone who is or can be a part of this family. Anyone but not me. I can't go and I won't. I'd rather die than be a vampire's pawn."

King Lyon's brow furrowed in confusion. He averted his gaze from his daughter to his wife when he saw her walking closer. "What are you suggesting, Crystal?"

Crystal hesitated. She had just blurted it out but on second thought, she did not have any young female cousins. 

Her only relative was Duke Herring's twin sons, Cameron and Caleb Herring as well as from her maternal side, her mother's older sister's daughter, Lady Cyrus and her young son, Master Victor.

It was already a disaster.

Just when she thought all hope was lost, her mother's conniving voice sounded from behind her as her hands pressed down on her shoulder. 

"Why don't we… we adopt someone. One who is not family but can take the place of our daughter.

Crsytal's eyes flew open at the suggestion. She turned her head just in time to see the loving smile on her mother's lips. 

Facing the King, Queen Lisa added, "I birthed her. I am not about to let ehr go, much more to her death. What mother will even think of…

"Mothers like the past Queens who knew that their duty lay with the people and kingdom! And wasn't selfish enough to not do the right thing."

Crystal's brows furrowed. "So you'll do the right thing and sacrifice me, your daughter?!" Crystal bellowed, pushing her mother's hands away while rushing forward, stopping at the foot odf the throne.

"I am your blood!" she protested. 

King Lyon fell silent for a while then suddenly he shut his eyes as he rose from his throne, pacing.

"I will do what is right of me as a king," he said, coming to a stop in front of Crystal.

"Then as a father?" Queen Lisa inquired.

"Then as a father…" he inhaled deeply, shutting his eyes as a deep frown settled on his features, "gods above forgive me." He opened his eyes and Crystal saw something shift in him. "As a father, I can't lose you, my priceless jewel."

Crystal's heart stopped briefly, only to resume its thudding when King Lyon said the last sentence. "I'll accept your mother's suggestion. We shall find you a replacement and have them sent in your place on the fourth full moon cycle."

"It's settled then. Now, all we need is to find the most suitable candidate, someone beautiful to make the part. Someone…"

Crystal's lips curled into a sly smile. "Send Lyra," she cut in coldly. "Her mother is sick and won't last long. No one would miss her if she's gone and no one would protest."