Alpha’s Virgin Wife by Baby Charlene
Chapter 259 The Challenge
4TH TO LAST CHAPTER
Shilah hurried out with Sukie to see what was going on. Getting outside, she discovered other witches were already there, including her mother. But there was one other witch who wasn’t supposed to be there – a witch that was not one of them.
Shilah’s brows furrowed as she stared at Remata who stood beside her horse, looking vengeful and fearless. What was she doing there?
She kept looking around in disgust, probably wondering how the witches left the convenient palace to settle for less.
“Shilah”, Remata sighed. “It’s a good thing I found you finally. I have a message from the Supreme Sister”.
She brought out a letter from her bag and approached her. Shilah stared silently as she walked toward her and proffered the sealed letter.
“Be careful, Shilah”, her mother came closer and said.
Remata eyed the aged woman beside her, noting she was strange. Who was she? Shilah went ahead to open the letter and read through the content. Then, she smirked as she looked up at Remata.
“Your Supreme Sister really sent this?” She scoffed.
“Isn’t it obvious? The royal seal is there”, Remata answered coarsely.
“What does the letter say?” One of the witches came closer and asked. They were all curious.
“According to Kylie”, Shilah said. “she cannot have the witches divided. There can only be one ruler. So, she wants a fight with me – a fight to death. The last man standing becomes the ruler”.
“What?” The witches flinched. “What is she talking about?”
“Has Kylie lost her mind? How can she even ask for a thing like that?” Ayita stood beside Shilah, looking so worried.
“So, what is your take, Shilah? I am expected to return with a response”, Remata said.
Shilah was silent for a while, then folded up the letter.
“Go back to her and tell her I accept her challenge”, she answered brusquely.
“What?”
“Shilah!”. Ayita held her hand. “What are you doing?! You are not accepting this!”
“You have nothing to worry about. Kylie is sure to lose”, Shilah countered her worries, intentionally not calling her mother.
But Remata was already suspicious of the strange bond between them. She had never seen that woman face, yet she was in the midst of the witches and seemed so close to Shilah.
“Tell her I accept her place and date as well”, Shilah turned to Remata. “If that is what she wants”.
“Very well”, Remata drew a deep breath. “You have made a good decision. Can’t wait to see you fall on your knees, begging for life”.
“One more derogatory word from you, and you’ll be the one begging for your life – right now”, Shilah snapped.
Remata saw the danger in her eyes – it frightened her bit. Throwing a glare at them, she climbed onto her horse and left.
*******
“You mustn’t accept this challenge, Shilah. Kylie’s points do not matter anymore”. “You should call Remata back and cancel”.
“This is not a good idea. Kylie might come up with something else – just to defeat you!”
“We still have time. We should cancel this fight”.
Shilah was getting strained by the different voices of the witches that grumbled to her as they returned to the hall. She got to a table and poured herself some water to drink.
Ayita marched to stand before her.
“I cannot let you do this. I just got you back few days ago, there is no way I am losing you again”, her voice wavered as she spoke.
Shilah dropped the cup in her hand to face her. “You are never losing me, mother. Do not forget I also have a son who would look up to me. You should be certain I will not lose”.
“But we do not know what Kylie has up her sleeves. We also know who Kylie is and the fact that she would not want to lose. For all we know, this might be a trap”, Sukie chipped in.
Shilah sighed and looked away, tired of trying to convince them.
“I need some rest. Where is my son?” She grumped and started walking away.
The others looked at her in surprise as she acted so care-freely. Should they really be worried for her? But Kylie… they could not trust her. She was very strong – with or without her powers. How would they be sure she would not try something dangerous?
*********************
Remata returned to the witches’ palace days later to give Kylie the feedback.
“She accepted your challenge”, she reported as she stood behind her in the room.
Kylie remained calm in her seat where she faced the window.
“Time and place?” she asked lowly. “She agreed to yours”.
There was a brief silence.
“Perfect, then. Tell the other witches to set up the place, and make sure there is no delay”, Kylie instructed. Remata bowed and turned to leave.
“How are they?” Kylie suddenly asked, making Remata halt.
Even if she wasn’t specific, Remata knew what she was referring to. She turned back to her, clearing her throat slightly.
“They um…. they looked fine. Although, they were in a very inconvenient environment. I found it hard to believe they left the palace for that. They were actually against Shilah accepting your challenge”, she reported and held back for a reaction, but Kylie said nothing.
Kylie needed no one to tell her how deeply hurt Kylie was. She missed ruling the other witches, she missed everything.
“Although…”, she suddenly said upon remembrance. “I noticed a strange woman in their midst. There was something about the way she looked and spoke to Shilah. Although, the other witches were concerned, but this woman’s concern came with fear. And I also noticed Shilah spoke to her in a different way”.
For the first time, Kylie twirled her chair around to look at her. Curiosity twinkled in her eyes.
“Don’t you think she’s someone from the palace? Perhaps, one of the maids?” She inquired.
“To be honest, Supreme Sister, I have no idea. She cooks be someone from the palace, but she just seemed too close to Shilah”, Remata replied.
Kylie drew a light breath and turned back to the window. The woman should be none of her concern as she could be someone less – important.
Her concern was the fact that Shilah had accepted her challenge. At last, she’d have that one chance to eliminate her for good and reclaim all she had lost. On that day, one of them was going to die. And Kylie was bound to make sure it would be Shilah.
********************
When King Dakota heard of Shilah’s challenge with Kylie, he was outraged. He first growled at the witches for letting her make such decision when they were right beside her, then he took Shilah to the room to lash at her.
“How could you even make such decision, Shilah?! Agreeing to fight to the death with Kylie?! One of you has to die! So, who do you think it would be?”
Shilah stood calmly as she let the King yell at her. She had expected it, and perhaps, she needed it.
“Are you forgetting we have a son?! Are you forgetting you have responsibilities? How dare you gamble with your life like this?” he paused and brushed his fingers into his hair.
“Listen to me, Shilah, I need you to write to Kylie or whatever you need to do. And I need you to tell her you are withdrawing your acceptance”. Shilah’s eyes dimmed.
“I am afraid that cannot happen, my king. Withdrawing my acceptance will equal defeat. And my defeat means my death”, she said with her head bowed.
King Dakota scoffed.
“This cannot be happening”, he paced back and forth the room. He was worried sick, it made Shilah uncomfortable.
Finally, he stood in front of her and glared at her with angry eyes. “I am disappointed in you, Shilah”, he gruffed and stormed out of the room.