Chapter 37 Ch 37

Because I seemed to know Angelica, everyone else seemed more willing to allow her and Peter into the basement. My hands began to tremble as we headed down the steep stairs. Matt released a low growl before we reached the bottom. Peter and Angelica both froze at the sight of their king pacing inside a 10x10 cage. A grin appeared on Peter's face and I thought he was going to bound over to the cage in a childish skip. But, the moment he stepped towards Matt, the beast growled louder. His blue eyes glowed especially bright in the dim lighting.

"He doesn't want anyone but Rylee to get close," Danny told the two visitors.

Angelica turned to look at me with curious, wide eyes while Peter glowered at me. I felt it was my cue to show them. Gulping, I began to move when Tandan grabbed my arm. His eyes flashed with concern and warning.

"He won't hurt me," I said quietly.

Then he let me go. I proceeded to walk past Peter and Angelica and directly up to the cage. Matt didn't growl but he was still tense. Almost everyone had drifted down into the basement to watch.

"It's okay," I whispered to Basileus. He whined when I slipped my hand between the cage bars to pet his bent head. "These people know you. Or they think they know you."

"He doesn't recognize me in my human form," Peter interjected. Basileus' eyes flashed open. "Let me show him my eyes. He'll know."

Nodding, I pulled away from the cage and off to the side. Peter took another step forward, met again with a ferocious snarl. The man—or lycan—sighed impatiently and then closed his eyes. Upon opening them, they glowed the silver color from before. We all could hear Basileus catch his breath. He stared at the man in front of him for an agonizing minute. And then he stood up onto his rippling, powerful hind legs and grabbed the bars. Pushing his nose through the stressed bars, he growled lowly. This growl felt wholly different from the ones before it. I felt it deep in my bones, like an itch in an impossible spot to reach. Without realizing it, I crumpled to my knees.

Everyone else was also on their knees as I glanced around. What the hell just happened? A slow smile crept onto Peter's lips, eyes still glowing.

"My King," he greeted, "we have been waiting for you."

After we all recovered from the shock, Angelica got back onto her feet. She pointed her sharp gaze at Danny and a finger at the cage.

"Unlock him," she ordered. "Now."

Danny rose to a stand on shaky legs. A dumbfounded expression remained on his face while he inched towards Basileus' cage. The beast visibly quivered and his jaw hung slightly ajar. Saliva dripped out onto the cement floor. Before he unlocked the cage, Danny paused to face us again.

"Kiara, I want you to take the Sanders upstairs," he ordered and, when she opened her mouth to protest, added, "Wait until I come to get you."

The Alpha-Female summoned her courage through a deep breath before turning to my parents. They nodded and followed her up the stairs. Braden remained with me, Danny, Tandan, Peter, and Angelica. Danny met my gaze. It was like he wanted my permission. I shrugged and tried not to notice the anxious stir in my stomach.

Danny unlocked the cage and opened it quickly, probably to avoid being trampled. Instead of rushing out, as we had anticipated, Basileus slowly walked to the open hole and stepped through. All eyes were on him. I held my breath and prayed he wouldn't lose control.

"Basileus," Peter said. He was still on his knees and now he tilted his head to the side, showing his neck. A sign of submission. "Will you come with us back to our homeland?"

While he tested the air with his large nose, Basileus looked down at me. I squeezed my hands into fists to keep from running. He terrified me. I remembered our first two encounters all too well to be at ease. Peter's request went ignored. Basileus came to me and lifted me to my feet with a clawed hand by my waist. Meanwhile, Tandan breathed heavily and stood tensely amongst the others. Part of my mind feared he would react to seeing another male touch me. If he challenged Basileus again, I didn't know if he'd make it out alive. Not with Basileus' Beta in the room.

"She is nothing to you," Peter grouched. At no acknowledgment, the man said, "Basileus! Elle n'est rien pour toi!" (She is nothing to you!)

Basileus cocked his head in the direction of his native speaker. "Je vais, elle va." (I go, she goes.)

Everyone gawked. Holy shit! He spoke! Peter's stunned expression faded, replaced by one of anger.

"Avez-vous oublié qui vous êtes?" (Have you forgotten who you are?)

Snorting at him, Basileus replied, "Je n'oublie pas. C'est vous qui avez oublié sa place." (I do not forget. It is you who has forgotten his place.)

"What is he saying?" Danny demanded.

Angelica tried to speak but Peter interrupted her with more French that the rest of us couldn't understand. The Spanish I took in high school was failing me big time right now.

"Et je t'attendais depuis assez longtemps!" Peter yelled. "Il est temps que votre trône soit rétabli." (And I have been waiting long enough! It is time your throne is restored.)

Basileus growled at him before turning back to me. My eyes widened at the attention I was given yet again. If anything was going to happen in the next minute, it would probably be me shitting my pants. I had so many questions but I didn't think he would understand or even answer them. The realization that he was actually the king and this was all real...it was hitting me hard.

Squatting down, he wrapped his arms around my hips and picked me up. I squealed.

"Hey!" Tandan yelled. I couldn't see him, now that I flopped over his shoulder. "What the fuck are you doing?"

I felt Basileus quiver around me. He twisted his head to the side to bellow out a thundering growl and say, "Je ne vous laisserai pas chasser mon vaisseau à nouveau." (I will not let you chase away my vessel again.)

Even though I didn't know what he was saying, I knew all this sexy French talk would make me weak in the knees. I couldn't find the beast sexy! I had a mate, for Heaven's sake.

Now that Tandan stood silenced, Basileus started towards the farthest wall of the basement. I didn't know what was happening. I only knew it must have been bad when Danny found his voice and shouted, "Wait!"

I couldn't imagine why anyone would ever think Basileus would listen to them. Much less wait on them. So of course he didn't wait. He grabbed something heavy and large and threw it up. The grating noise made me realize it was a garage door. Once the door was out of his way, Basileus strode out into the sunlight. I blinked until my eyes adjusted.

"Basileus," I whimpered. "Matt?"

The response was a low growl.

"What are you doing with me?" I asked, pressing my hands to his back.

"Tu ne m'échapperas plus, petit chiot." (You will not escape me again, little pup.)

"I...I don't understand French."

He didn't answer. Just continued trudging on with long strides. My ears strained to listen to the crowd we left behind, but I couldn't hear them over his loud heartbeat.

A beastly roar sliced through the air. Basileus paused. He turned to face the sound. At my gasp, he pulled me down from his shoulder and placed me on the ground beside him. His hand guided my chin up.

"Reste," he ordered. (Stay.)

If I hadn't been concerned about the other roar, I would've yelled at the beast in frustration. How many times would I have to tell him I didn't know French? My eyes quickly latched onto the giant object approaching us. I gasped again.

Another lycan stood off closer to the house. He wasn't nearly as monstrous as Basileus, but he was certainly larger than any werewolf. Unlike Basileus' dark brown fur, this lycan's fur was gray. His eyes glowed silver. Lowering himself onto all fours, he bared his teeth and snarled.

Basileus straightened to his full height, puffed his chest out, and unleashed a howl. Then they charged each other.