Queen Rouge

Chapter 8

I can feel the gazes of most of the unmated males on me. The rest of them sneaking glances at me, thinking I don't know. Even some of the mated males are looking my way. But none of those stares matter. I'm more focused on the death glare trying to burn a hole through my skull.

And the more guys a flirt with, the steelier it gets. If looks could kill I'd be one very dead rouge. Luckily though, looks don't kill...well not that kind of looks anyway. My beauty tends to prove itself quite deadly.

Having had enough with the crowds of people, I walk a way away from the party. I stand looking up at the night sky. The stars. And moon. The ephemeral beauty gently shining down on me. It's magic strengthening me, giving my irises a purple tinge, almost a glow. It's a crescent moon. Waxing, I think. I've never been terribly good at deciphering that.

"It's beautiful isn't it." A deep gruff voice startles me from out of my thoughts. I slightly jump whipping my head to look at him. My stance in high alert. Upon seeing who it is, I relax. But only just. "Who would've thought. Demina Madaris can be snuck up on." I roll my eyes at his sarcastic comment.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny." I reply, making him chuckle. And just like that. I'm having what would be considered playful banter with the AlphaKing.

"I see you that you decided not to wear a dress. Even though your 'king' specifically asked you to." He mused. A smile on his face.

"Tyson can shove the dress up his arse." I say, with all seriousness. "Besides did you really expect any less? You and I both know that I don't follow orders well. No rouge does."

"Yes, which is what I find so amusing about rouges having a king. Having a leader is a pack concept. A concept which rouges are supposed to despise."

"That's where you're wrong. We don't quite work like that. It's not do this or do that, with Tyson. We have choices. And for the things we do we get things in return. Future favours or whatever we negotiated for. We work for Tyson to try and help improve standards among rouges. To stop the whole 'ohmigod! It's a rouge! Run, run, it'll kill us'. Most rouges kill to stop people speaking word about their whereabouts, their locations. Rouges don't want people to know where they are, they don't want to be found. And they'll do what they have to, to keep it that way. Even if it means killing. Which isn't that much different to packs. A pack wants to expand, or there's a pack they gave a grudge against. How about we kill everyone in that pack, kids, women and all. I don't care about the lives they could've lived, or anything, I want that land so this is how I'll get it. Kill them all. You want something snd you're not afraid to kill and destroy lives to get it. Yes, there are some rouges who purposely cause trouble and stir up the packs. Most of the rouges with Tyson don't think like that, they work against those rouges." I explain.

"I suppose, that's one way to look at it. And what do you mean, you get things in return, whatever you negotiate for?" He asked.

"I mean exactly that. Whatever you negotiate for. Before you join Tyson's ranks you go into a one on one meeting. A meeting where he will tell you what he'd like you to do for him and he'd ask what your want in return. You make your demand. And then you'll negotiate to find a common ground where you both get what you want." I give him a 'duh' look.

"What did you negotiate for?" He asks me. A look of pure curiosity on his face.

"We don't ask questions like that. It's frowned upon, and simply not done. It's like asking us how we became rouge, or why, or what pack we came from. It's just not done."

"Well, I'm not part of your society. So I'll ask. What did you get out of it? And what exactly do you do for Tyson anyway?" He questions, staring intently at my face. I'm still looking straight ahead, purposely not facing him. I don't want to see the expression on his face, I already know what it'll look like.

"The second question is rather quite easy. I'm what you might call an enforcer. Or as Tyson an occasion will call 'not so friendly encouragement'. Um also his 'bodyguard', I suppose. My job is also to make sure no one kills or harms him. But I'm not too good at the second part of that. I've been known to purposely let some people dislocate a shoulder, crush a hand, break a nose or draw blood. I've even been known to personally dislocate his shoulder. In my opinion, as long as it can't kill him, it'll be right. I've also been known to hunt down some particularly troublesome rouges."

"What do you mean by 'not so friendly encouragement'?"

"Not all negotiations go smoothly. As much as Tyson hates to, sometimes people have to be given a nudge in the right direction, of the not so friendly kind, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, I'm afraid I do know what you mean." He solemnly says, his smile gone. "And what did Tyson give to you, for doing all of this?"

"I'm very different from the other rouges. My negotiations right from the beginning have always been different. Tyson has got to the point where he doesn't need new members as much. So he can use 'no, get out' against them. But I'm something, that he needs. I'm important enough that he'll do almost anything for. So I get pretty much, whatever I got damned please. Best room in the castle, even better than Tyson's--"

"Castle?" He interrupts me.

"Yes, Jason. We live in a castle. Tyson likes it because he's the 'king' and all. I really couldn't careless." I answer him, actually looking at him. "But I think you get the point. My wish, is his command, and all. But I normally don't ask for much. I've had to get him to ban a few people from stepping within 500 feet of me. As you would already know, my tolerance and patience is pretty thin."

"Yes. Those are two of your most memorable qualities other than that of your beauty. I'm fairly sure all the males here, mated or not, will remember you in that outfit. I dread to see what it'd turn out like if someone actually managed to talk you into wearing a dress. The image will most likely be burned into their brains forever. You always liked to be centre of attention."

"That I did." I say, turning back to look out into the forrest. We settle into a comfortableish silence. A few moments pass before he once again breaks the silence.

"How'd you do it?" He suddenly says, his gaze burning into the side of my face. Turning to look at him, I reply. Having a feeling I know exactly what he means.