Rakshasa Boyfriend: Chirayu (special preview)

“Oh, do that first!” I laugh. “But yes, my question.” I lean back in my seat. “There are payments Lord Swaene made to something, or someone, called Black Wolf. I was wondering if you knew what this possibly was.” I glance over the ledger again. “A payment is made every month on the same day.”

“The Black Wolves were a mercenary group,” Delilah replies. “Perhaps he had hired them to take care of some of his dirty work.”

“Mercenaries?” I look at her with a pinched brow. “What kind of mercenaries?”

“Around these parts they’re more myth than fact. No one is certain if they are real or fantasy tales people have invented. They’re said to be the bastard children of the lords of Ophirin, those that Irina chooses to ignore so they move without fear in her shadow.”

A chill goes down my spine. “Whose Irina?”

Delilah points to a statue hanging over the fireplace. It is of a woman who is wrapped in the petals of a lily and her hair billows out like a cloud. 

“She’s the Goddess of Ophirin, a sign of fertility, conquest, and domain. She’s also a hater of the illegitimate and curses anything that is by branding it something reviled. They were sacrifices back in the day,” she snarls.

“And these Black Wolves-” I whisper. 

“Bastard children, amongst Irina’s most hated. They are called Blights.” A grim look crosses Delilah’s face. “They are everywhere, young prince.”

“But why would Lord Swaene be paying these Black Wolves? It appears he was greatly devoted to Irina as this creepy statue is everywhere in the keep and he made donations to the church every week.” I sigh and shake my head. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Delilah shrugs. “Is that all you will be needing of me, sir?”

“Yes, uhm-” I look at her a moment longer before turning back to the ledgers. “Thank you for the tea.”

Delilah bows. “Don’t work too hard. Who knows what will happen tomorrow.”

I watch her as she leaves the room as another chill serpentines down my spine. I grimace and return to my work, hoping to get a head start so I could relax a little longer tomorrow. 

I get up early the next morning and head back to my office. I’ve asked a maid to send my breakfast in for me. Just as I am sitting down and going over what I had done the day before, Delilah comes in pushing a cart.

“How did you know this is exactly what I wanted?” I smile at her.

Delilah sighs. “Are you so sure?” Out from under the cart she pulls out a sword. My insides go cold as she presses the steel to my throat. “Stay still, remain quiet, and above all else you will obey me.”

I drop the ledger in my hand and look up at her. “Are you the Black Wolf?”

“One of,” she says with a nod. “Outside that door are more. We have the castle surrounded and we have your family held captive. They will not be harmed as long as you cooperate with me.”

I take a steadying breath. “Who knows what will happen tomorrow, right?”

Delilah lowers her sword. “Why are you still in a dressing robe?” She asks me. “Do none of you in Raksahsa Country dress?”

“It’s early morning, why would I get dressed before I’ve even eaten?” I ask.