DO NOT begin reading from here. Please read The Prince's Consort and The King's Consort
first
, if you haven't, as there are MAJOR spoilers within this compilation. This is meant only for those who have read through the series and are interested in alternative views of existing scenes, scenes that didn't make it into the series, an extended final scene, and bonus content.
One star(*) is a break in the scene with the same POV (point of view) following into the next scene. Three stars(***) is a change in scene
and
a change in POV. They should be -- mostly -- in sequential order. Enjoy!
The Prince's Consort bonus content~
Kalen watched the flames roar up around the bunker, engulfing the heavy beams of metal with their searching fingers. Soon, the place would collapse in on itself, obliterating any proof of Gabriel's horrid experiments. With Caitlin safely in the vehicle, and Nadia by her side, he could be rest assured that she was well cared for.
He glanced down at the two bodies spread out on the lawn.
A slight tinge of regret colored his mood. They were good men, the two of them, and he couldn't stand to let their bodies be buried with the other humans. So, he had them removed by Nadia's team, who were merely a loan from his father.
Obliterating the hunters seemed to be the only thing they ever agreed on.
Kalen laughed to himself. Truly it was
he
who was the monster, killing countless people to ensure his one little human was safe. Consorts were rare, so rare, but not impossible to find, if he waited long enough. But he had an irrationally strong attachment to the girl. Not only that she carried his child, but there was a measure of strength to her, a stubbornness that might do her well as a Queen. He did not regret the choice he'd made with her, but he'd wished he'd shown more restraint.
She deserved a softer touch.
Kalen knelt to the corpses of his men, one loyal, and one betrayer. Unfortunately, Micah, the loyal one, had his head blown off by Gabriel's men. There was nothing he could do for him, in such a state. All they
could
do was cremate him and remember his sacrifice.
The other, the betrayer, was also Caitlin's brother.
Half
. He'd been shot, not in the head, but the heart. From Kalen's brief investigation, he concluded that Sara had a standoff with Gabriel, and had attempted to protect her from the hunter with his life.
So, even in the end, he wasn't all bad.
He looked down at the corpse, the blood still warm. Kalen eased Sara's head back, and tore at his own wrist to allow the blood to flow. "Sara, I've not released you from my employ." He pressed his wrist to pale lips, letting his heart pump pure, royal blood into the dead man's mouth.
Sara's eyes were still wide with the shock of emotion he'd died with. The blood in his veins wouldn't be enough to maintain him once the change took hold, but Nadia's team could help him on his first hunt. Kalen didn't know how the big man would react to undeath, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to care, either. If Sara had any lingering concern for Caitlin, he would understand.
His glassy eyes remained unseeing for a moment longer, then the skin around them twitched, and thick hands came up to grip Kalen's arm. Kalen focused on keeping his wound open long enough to sustain Sara until the change took hold.
The big man didn't acknowledge him, pressing his mouth hard against the vein. His eyes flared when the blood reached his center, mending his shattered chest and forcing his heart to pump again. One strong thud after another, and it picked up pace, thrumming rapidly.
Kalen finally tore away, pressing Sara to the ground with a hand on his sternum.
Sara flailed and screamed out in agony. The blood coursed through him, forcing the change through every cell of his body. It was good Caitlin wasn't here to witness this, or she'd truly think him a monster. Kalen tried to protect her from the cruelty of their nature, but she'd learn soon enough, if she wished to remain at his side.
Maybe she meant what she said before, when those human men ruined their evening and tried to rape her. Kalen had only done what he needed to protect her, but she never seemed to see it that way.
He understood her fear of their kind. She was an untested, sheltered child, but she'd shown more spirit than most humans could muster. Even in the face of death, she met it head-on. He began to wonder if it had something to do with her lineage.
Sara's body trembled beneath him, once, twice, then went still.
Kalen watched as the transformation took hold, the roughened skin smoothing out, the slight lines around his eyes disappearing, and the eyes themselves, bleeding into blackness. When the body's stiffness relaxed, Kalen knew it was complete. "Stand up, Sara."
Sara did, slowly easing up, levering from the ground off his haunches. Kalen stood with him, having to look up at the beast he'd created. Kalen was tall, but Sara was taller still. Though, if it came to a test of strength and speed, he would win.
A newborn would never stand a chance against royal blood.
Sara opened his mouth, but no words formed. He blinked, then stared down at his new master, feeling his own torn shirt for the bullet holes that were no longer there.
"You are one of us, now," Kalen said, maintaining and mask of indifference, but internally, he was relieved the blood took hold. There was a chance he'd been too far gone, but something had kept his spirit near to the body, making the return easy. "Who is your master?"
Sara bared his teeth in distaste, the canines threatening to grow. "You are."
"Good." Kalen gauged the man's temerity. "Caitlin killed Gabriel ten minutes ago, and you've been dead for fifteen. You understand what you are?"
The man hesitated, then gave a curt nod.
"You don't have to like it, but I still need you. For Caitlin's sake." Kalen glanced down at Micah's corpse. "She does not need to suffer more than necessary. But-" He looked back up at Sara. "-she must not know you're alive. Not yet."
Sara blinked, then nodded again.
Kalen placed a hand on the big man's shoulder. "I need you to do something for me, first."
***
The King's Consort bonus content ~
The council members dissipated from the room, but Eamon's gaze never left her. "You're a bloody idiot for coming here. You know that."