83__Good or Evil

The cold air made Kamilla wrinkle her nose as Viktor wrapped his huge scarf around her mouth, nose and neck.

“Stubborn as a bloody mule,” he muttered angrily, ensuring that not a single opening was visible around her neck. “Told her to stay at home... doesn’t listen, rock-headed little—”

“I can hear you,” Kamilla told him, her voice muffled by the scarf.
Viktor paused to glare down in her green eyes that blinked above the thick, grey scarf.
“Yes, you can hear.” He said. “You just don’t listen!”

With that, he spun around on his royal heel and stalked off into the Onyx forest, his black coat billowing out behind him. Kamilla blinked for a moment as she stood still, stuffed to the nose with a thick padded coat and his huge scarf around her neck and face. She sighed and slowly started trudging after him with a shake of her head. He was so melodramatic. What was so wrong with her wanting to go face Rogan with him? So what, if Rogan had tried to kill her multiple times in the past?

“Hurry up!” barked Viktor.

Kamilla rolled her eyes and jogged carefully to catch up with him. She felt like she was stuffed inside a marshmallow, she could barely run properly. If she fell, she would definitely roll.
“No need to be so pissy,” she said aloud so he could hear her through the scarf. “This is what couples do together!”

Viktor glanced at her with a raised brow. “What kind of idiots did you date that willingly took you into war zones to fight furious vampires?”

Kamilla pondered for a second. “No one actually, you’re my first... boyfriend...”

He glanced at her as he walked, his eyes glinting with something Kamilla couldn’t really place.
“I’m not your ‘*boyfriend*’,” he told her firmly. “I’m your mate. Your Vampire King. Don’t refer to me with that lowly human title.”

Giving him the blankest expression she could slacken her face enough to give, Kamilla sighed and rolled her eyes. He had his nemesis waiting a few hundred feet away and all he could do was tell her not to call him a boyfriend?

“Stay behind me,” Viktor suddenly muttered and Kamilla immediately became on guard.

Raising her gaze, she spotted the small clearing a little into the forest where six men were present.
The closer they got, the clearer Kamilla could see and what she saw sent shivers down her back.

Rogan stood in the middle of the clearing, his shirt ripped to shreds so that the streaks of blood across his back were clearly visible.

Five of the Legion stood in various spots around him, each of their eyes focused like lasers on the man before them. The energy around them was charged and Kamila could feel it. The guys were waiting for the slightest opportunity to pounce on Rogan and tear him to shreds.
Especially Vlad who was crouched low, eyes glowing behind his black hair as he stared intensely up at Rogan, his black outfit making him look like an actual black panther on the hunt.
Kamilla raised her gaze and her mouth dropped open behind the thick scarf. Syre and Fayed stood in two different trees, watching the movement below like hawks ready to swoop in and tear their prey to pieces.

The sight of them this way put Kamilla’s heart at total ease. Whatever Rogan wanted to try, he could go right ahead. These guys were ready to destroy him and it made her giddy with excitement.

Everyone seemed to break out of their frozen position when they heard Viktor approach. The Legion saw Viktor and gave him the respect they felt honored to give their King. Kamilla thought they’d even gone a little extra with the greeting just to show Rogan where their loyalty lied.

Rogan himself didn’t move an inch. Viktor slowly approached, his every step a loud crunch as he crushed dead leaves beneath his feet.
Peeking around Viktor, Kamilla saw that Rogan was calmly twirling a dead leaf between his thumb and index finger, not bothering to raise his gaze.

Viktor stopped walking about ten feet away from him, silent as a tomb. Kamilla stopped beside him, glancing up at him with wide eyes, full of curiosity as to what would happen next. Would Viktor decide to kill Rogan for reappearing in the Kingdom?
Her thoughts came to a stop when Rogan lifted his head and looked at them. His eyes were darker and scarier than they’d ever been before, startling Kamilla’s heart as they always did.

He didn’t look happy.

“Ten minutes...” Rogan murmured darkly. “You had your dogs keep me here for ten fucking minutes.”

Viktor’s eyes narrowed. “What? You got an appointment?”

Turning his gaze away, Rogan looked clearly angered. “Do I have an...?” He released a harsh breath and turned back to Viktor with a sharp glare. “I’ll tell you what I don’t have. I don’t time for your bullshit—”

“You have thirty seconds to explain what you were doing in my forest before I rip your throat out myself,” Viktor calmly told him. “And you can be sure that this time, I will do it.”

Rogan scoffed, his mouth curving in a smile. His shoulders started to shake and before they knew it, he’d thrown his head back, laughing heartily.
Kamilla saw Vlad’s fists clench with fury and the Legion seemed to collectively close in on Rogan, their presence darker and more menacing that before.

Viktor raised a hand, stopping them. “Legion,” he said. “You may leave.”

Kamilla saw Seth hesitate, but unable to disobey his King, gave his brothers the signal and led them away.

Rogan’s laughter died to a chuckle and he titled his head at Viktor as he spread his arms out. “Go ahead,” he said. “Do whatever the fuck you want. Death’s been avoiding me recently, maybe you can lend me a hand.”

“Cut the bullshit, Rogan,” Viktor said impatiently. “My kingdom will not suffer because you failed to get your shit together. Coming into my forest and attacking—”

“They were not your people,” Rogan told him. “They were outsiders—”

“Foreign travelers in my forest are in my kingdom and are therefore under my protection!”

Rogan’s mouth curved in an unamused smile. “Bull. Shit.”

Viktor slowly nodded, his eyes darkening. “Yeah, maybe it is. Maybe, I’m just looking for an excuse to tear your beating heart out.”
Kamilla’s eyes widened when Viktor took a step toward Rogan, pulling off his coat as he did so.

The sudden sound of running hooves made everyone stop in their steps, on guard at the uninvited addition to their little gathering.
A white horse galloped into view, making its way to the clearing where they stood.

They watched as its rider, an absolute artwork of the gods, swung himself off the horse even before it had come to a complete stop.

His hair was a shocking white, his skin a glorious tan and his eyes a clear silver. Kamilla had seen a lot of species before, but she hadn’t seen any that looked like him. He literally looked unreal.
Clutching his side, he rushed up to Rogan and gripped his arm. He held Rogan, but all his attention was on Viktor.
“King of Onyx,” he said in a low voice, giving Viktor a single bow. “Forgive the mess I’ve made on your land, it was a situation out of my control.”

With narrowed eyes, Viktor studied the man. “You’re... King of Geminor.”

The man grunted, clutching his side tighter as he nodded. “I am called Aiden.”
His side seemed to be bleeding and Kamilla stared at it worriedly.
“Again, King,” he said to Viktor. “I apologize for the mess I have caused upon your land.”

Viktor’s gaze went from King Aiden to Rogan and back and then down to Aiden’s wounds. “What happened?”

“None of your business,” said Rogan.

“If it’s in my Kingdom, it’s my fucking business, Rogan!” Viktor growled angrily.

Aiden looked at them in surprise. “I... well, it appears you two are familiar with each other.”

Rogan ripped off the measly remainders of his shirt and tossed them on the ground. “I have no time for any of you.”

“You’ll leave when I say so,” said Viktor easily.

Looking up at the sky, Rogan gave a dark chuckle. “What is this?” he demanded. “Do you want another fight, Viktor? Because I’ll give it to you. And I’ll have you know that, with my current situation, you’ll be at a disadvantage.”

Kamilla’s curiosity got the better of her. “What situation?”

Rogan’s gaze lowered to hers and a sinister smirk curved his mouth. “Oh? Did you just address me? No trauma at all from what happened?”

Jaw clenching, Viktor moved to shield Kamilla with his shoulder. Not in the least scared of Rogan, she moved to be side-by-side with Viktor once more, unfazed by the mockery the black-eyed rogue was currently throwing at her.

“But of course you’d come back,” said Rogan with a scornful smile. He waved a hand. “Anyway, that’s another story for another day. To answer your question, Kamilla. My aunt, who, until yesterday, I treasured, has cast a spell on me. She used magic far more powerful than I could ever wish to possess and enchanted me. As I stand here... I’m unable to die. It’s the *only* thing I desire and she’s taken it from me. Old hag.” Sighing deeply, he looked away from her shocked face. “So, I advise... you to tell your King to get out of my way immediately since there’s nothing he can do to me anyway.”

Kamilla was still reacting to his words when Viktor suddenly went forward and, to her surprise, wrapped his hand around Rogan neck and squeezed.
“Viktor!” she gasped with wide eyes.

“Just checking,” said Viktor, still strangling Rogan.

Startled, Aiden reached out for Viktor. “King, this is not necessary!”

Viktor wasn’t listening. With a strangely calm expression, he sucked the life out of Rogan and Kamilla watched in horror as brightly lit ashes began to break away from him. Rogan’s body seemed to be burning from within. Viktor was killing him!

“Viktor!” Kamilla said more urgently. “Stop, he’ll die!”

Rogan’s eyes didn’t leave Viktor’s face and in the most sinister manner, his mouth curved into a tight smile. When Kamilla looked down at his body, she saw why.
Every part of his body that burnt away from Viktor’s power was simply renewing itself. It was like life and death were wrestling within him.

Studying what was happening to Rogan’s body, Viktor scoffed and released him.
His eyes were dark, angry even as he unwillingly believed Rogan’s words. “Lucky bastard,” he murmured.

Rogan calmly rubbed his neck before scoffing out a laugh at the words. “Lucky?” He shook his head. “You have no fucking idea what you’re talking about. And do *not*... touch me again.”

King Aiden grunted again and Kamilla looked at him as Rogan and Viktor continued glaring at each other. “Uhm...” she said, going to Aiden’s side and gripping his arm in concern. “I think he needs help. Viktor!”

Breaking their stare, Rogan and Viktor looked at Aiden.
Rogan looked annoyed. “Why’d you come back here? Go and heal.”

“I came to see if you were alright...” said King Aiden. “I left you with those bastards to take the princess to safety. My sister... she’s alive, but barely.”

“What the fuck happened?” Viktor demanded.

Aiden looked at him, his silver eyes pained. “King... my sister, the princess of Geminor was visiting Onyx with her entourage. She was attacked by assassins. Shifters. And *this* man saved them. I came a little late, but he happened to be here and he saved them. Please let him live.”

Rogan snorted. “He doesn’t have a choice but to let me live.”

“You want to bet? Viktor demanded in irritation. “I can try every single thing I’ve ever wanted to rip you apart with and see if you’re still alive then.”

“Please!” Aiden roared and Kamilla was stunned to see fire flame in his silver eyes. “I don’t have time... My sister... she’s dying...”

Kamilla looked at Rogan pointedly. “Why don’t you save his sister?!”

Rogan scowled at her. “What?”

Tugging her scarf down, she said loudly, “Save his sister! You’re a powerful sorcerer.”

Aiden looked at Rogan with wide eyes. “You’re... a sorcerer? Please. Save my sister. I will reward you handsomely!”

“Woah...” Rogan raised a hand. “No, I’ve done enough—

Viktor sighed loudly, already annoyed by the fact that Rogan had actually done a good deed. “If that is the case, King Aiden, this is in your hands. Take this person out of my Kingdom immediately. He is an outlaw in this kingdom.”

Rogan said something equally cold to Viktor, but Kamilla hadn’t heard it. Something over King Aiden‘s shoulder had caught her eye.
Sharp and glinting in the light. She gasped. The tip of an arrow.

“Assassins!”

Without giving them more than a second to react, the arrow came splitting through leaves and aiming right for the King of Geminor. Rogan’s hand shot out, jerking Aiden out of danger and with wide eyes, Kamilla watched as the arrow’s new destination became Viktor’s chest.