Viktor invited the whole royalty of Wilyra for the challenge. They were supposed to fight in a stadium that was built right outside the palace. The stadium was like a rose bowl with the main field at the ground. All those who were near the capital came rushing to watch the fight between the king and his oldest son.
"Your Highness!" a guard came in where Lazarus was getting dressed for the fight. "The King has asked you to join him in the basement from where the contestant would go up to the field."
A crease formed on his forehead. "Why?"
The guard shook his head slightly. "I don't know. These were his orders for me to convey." He bowed and left.
"Why would he do that?" Emma asked, feeling dubious about it.
"I don't know…" Lazarus shrugged as he wore armor over his torso with Yul's help as Magnus watched them.
"Wait," Bernice entered the room along with King Titus. "Don't wear that." She had an armor slung over her hand that shone brilliantly.
"What is that?" Lazarus asked.
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When Lazarus reached the basement along with Yul and Magnus, he saw that his father was sitting on a chair and drinking wine. Surprised, he raised his eyebrow.
Viktor chuckled. "You thought that I would fight against you? You think I am so na?ve that I forgot the vow I made to the Lore to your mother?" He swirled the red liquid in his glass as he glared at him. "Anton!" he shouted. Lazarus whipped his head to the right and saw Anton coming into the basement.
"What is he doing here?" Lazarus growled, his mind filled with suspicion.
Viktor laughed. "He will be fighting for me."
Lazarus's gaze locked with Anton as a shiver ran down his body. So this was how Viktor was going to get rid of his sons? He shook his head as disgust rippled in him. "Aren't you tired of this game, father? What will you get out of this?"
"Shut up!" Viktor growled. "Unlike you, Anton wants to fight for me. He wants to do it for his kingdom and not for himself. You are the most selfish man I have ever seen!"
"Then you must see the mirror once in a day, father," Magnus spat.
"Magnus!" Viktor snarled. "Don't cross the limits on how to talk to me. You are nothing but an ant in front of me."
Lazarus wanted to shut up his younger brother, but Magnus didn't stop. "That's right father," Magnus replied. "You've never treated me as anything better than an ant. It was just a privilege by my birth that I happen to be in this palace, else, you've treated me just like you've treated any other person. I never felt… belonged."
"Enough!" Viktor shouted. "We are not here to discuss relationships. Besides, you have always shown to be loyal to Lazarus and not me. Why are you coming up with this baby issue now?"
Magnus looked at his father with pity. "I am loyal to Lazarus because he was the only father figure I had in my life."
The bell on the stadium rang loudly, snapping them all out of the emotions. Viktor turned his attention to Anton. "Make me proud, Anton. Kill this bastard!"
Anton's face morphed into anger. He was waiting for this moment all his life. "I will," he replied in a menacing voice.
Lazarus clenched his jaw. Anton was a powerful vampire and if he was with Lazarus, he would have done better, but Anton chose to be with his father. There was nothing much Lazarus could do about it.
Yul whispered, "This is cheating."
Lazarus didn't reply knowing fully well that it was cheating, but he had anticipated the move. He thought that his father would ask someone else to fight for him, but he never thought that he would ask Anton. How did Anton come so fast?
"Stand in the lift," Viktor ordered his sons, pointing at a thick wooden lift in the corner of the room. Magnus and Yul embraced him tightly before Lazarus walked in it.
Jasper had just walked in and he hugged his brother tightly. "I want you to win!"
Viktor came to stand with his sons in the lift. "Release the rope!" he barked an order.
As the lift rose, Viktor took a small knife out and gave it to Anton. Anton nodded, giving him a knowing glance and plunged the dagger in Lazarus's shoulder. However, the iron of the dagger cracked and fell on the floor. Anton and Viktor were shocked to see it falling down as they stared at the armor he was wearing. Lazarus smirked and whirled to Anton but by that time the lift had come to the surface.
Lazarus recalled that when he was wearing the armor, Titus had stopped him. King Titus took the armor from Bernice and made him wear it. "This is the armor spun from spider spun steel and then glazed in dragon fire. Not even fae iron can pass through it."
Lazarus walked out of the lift and wasn't surprised to see all the royalty waiting for them. There were about a hundred or so vampires who had gathered. This was an important fight for all of them. It was going to shape the future of the Wilyra Kingdom.
Anton and Viktor stepped out after him. Viktor walked in front of his sons. He picked up a conch that looked like a megaphone and addressed the gathering. "We all have gathered here to witness the fight for the throne. My oldest son, Lazarus, has challenged me. But it was my younger son, Anton who wanted to fight for me! I hereby announce this fight to begin. May the fittest win it!" Saying that he shot a glare to Lazarus and then walked out of the arena.
There was a loud cheering amongst the crowd. "Anton! Anton! Anton!" And Lazarus knew who they all wanted or rather sucked up to.
Anton rolled his shoulders as he gave a lopsided smile to Lazarus. "You still think you will win?"
Lazarus was waiting for this time. He said something to Anton which he wanted to do for a long time.
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