Page 20 of Lycan King’s Captives (Lycan King Reign Duet #1)

A n entire night passed, and half of today is already gone since Xandros left.

I can’t shake the feeling of emptiness that’s settled within me.

The mate bond has me craving his presence, my body aching without him.

I hate how dependent I’ve become of him.

He has become an addiction, and despite trying not to think about him, my mind always wanders back to what he could be doing.

My thoughts are obsessive and possessive of him. I hate it but can’t help it.

I sit on the windowsill, resting my head against the cold glass of my prison, watching the gardener tend to the gardens outside. The door to my room opens, and I glance over to see the maid entering. She moves around the room, and I pay her no mind until she calls out to me.

“Ma’am, your lunch order?” I turn to look at her briefly, she stands with her hands clasped in front of her, her blue blouse buttoned up to her throat, with black slacks on, she appears to be my age and stares at me like a deer in headlights. Returning my gaze to the window, I ignore her.

“Ma’am, the king sent me to ask what you want for lunch, you never called down?” she insists, her voice wavering slightly.

“Nothing,” I mutter, my attention now focused on a bird that perches on the window beside me. I watch it enviously, longing for the freedom it seems to have while I’m the one trapped in a cage.

“I have a cheese platter?” the woman suggests, once again, I ignore her.

She leaves the room and returns a moment later.

I hear a crash, followed by the woman’s shriek.

Glass shatters, and I jump, turning to see her on the floor, having tripped over the rug and broken a vase that sat on the lamp table next to the armchair.

Blood streams down her arm where she landed on a shard of glass, and I rush over to help her.

She pulls the large shard out of her forearm, blood spurts out, and I panic while she stares at her arm in shock for a second and then sighs.

The woman assures me she’s fine, when I notice the cart outside the door and dash out to grab a hand towel.

As I step into the dimly lit corridor, it dawns on me that this could be my chance to escape.

I glance down the hallway, toward the bright airy foyer at the end, then back at the open door where the woman is still cleaning up the mess.

With a heavy sigh, I snatch a tea towel, knowing the woman will probably get in trouble if I try to escape.

Just as I turn back toward the door, I hear hurried footsteps.

My heart races as I turn to see Xandros approaching.

He stops in his tracks, and looks at me in shock for a second.

That shock wears off quickly and turns to anger, his eyes blazing.

“How did you get out?” he snarls, marching toward me.

I back up at the feral sound of his voice, bumping into the maid’s cart.

Xandros seizes my arm tightly, his claws piercing my delicate flesh as he drags me to ward the bedroom door.

He shoves me back into the room, and I stumble to catch myself on the dresser.

He slams the door shut, prowling toward me.

“You know you don’t leave this room!” he yells, pointing a finger in my face, I feel the blood drain from my face.

“I was just getting a hand towel,” I try to explain, pointing to the injured maid, his gaze follows my finger then his eyes dart to the maid, his expression darkening.

“You left the fucking door open!” he snaps at her, taking a step toward her. My heart races at his fury as he turns it on her.

He stalks toward her and seeing her bewildered look, I rush in front of him, my hands shaking as I press them flat against his chest. ”Xandros,” I murmur and he snarls at me.

The woman freezes, her eyes wide with fear. “She did nothing wrong,” I plead, my voice stuttering as he tries to push past me, he grabs my arm and his grip is punishing.

“Xandros, please. She hurt herself, and I was just trying to help, she did nothing wrong.” Xandros looks down at me, he is livid and over something so stupid.

“You don’t leave the room!” he bellows at me, his face inches from mine. I drop my gaze, but he grabs my face, forcing my gaze to his.

“I’m sorry, she was bleeding, and I?—”

“You don’t leave the room! She would have healed! She isn’t human! Furthermore, she knows better!” he interrupts, his anger palpable as he turns his anger back on the woman.

“I didn’t notice she left… I’m sorry,” the woman apologizes.

Xandros growls.

“I’m sorry I didn’t know, I am new here. I only started yesterday to replace—” she pauses, her eyes flitting to me momentarily. She drops her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry, My King,” she murmurs softly.

His eyes dart to me, and she stops talking briefly. “There are no excuses. I’m sorry, My King,” she finishes, her voice trembling.

Yet I was still stuck on her saying she was replacing someone. Who? Did she mean Darcy? What happened to Darcy? Did they fire her or worse? My heart beats faster at the thought.

“Just get out, and don’t let it happen again,” he snarls at her, and she jumps at the tone he uses and so do I. She doesn’t hesitate in rushing out of the room and the door softly clicking shut before I hear the jiggle of keys as she locks it then twists the handle to ensure I am trapped inside.

The woman exits the room, leaving me frozen in place with Xandros.

Turning to my mate, my stomach churns violently for a few seconds while he paces the room, growling, as if he is trying to contain his anger.

Eventually, he stops, rubbing his temples, and exhales loudly.

Xandros makes his way to the closet. He tosses clothes onto the bed and begins to undress, toeing his shoes off and unbuttoning his shirt.

He pulls his shirt off, tossing it aside.

My gaze scans him lingering on the fang marks on his neck, and my stomach drops, knowing he was with Carina.

It’s the only explanation. I assumed he was, yet seeing the proof of it lacing his skin makes me feel sick.

While I was here suffering and craving him, he was with another woman, his wife.

It’s stupid that I am jealous of her. Xandros catches me staring and looks down, cursing under his breath. ” Wait... Sienna, it’s not?—”

He reaches for me, I slap his hands away, causing him to growl. “You know she is my wife!” he snarls.

“And I am your dirty mistress, your little secret locked in this godforsaken cage!” I scream back at him, my voice cracking. He seems taken aback by my outburst, and my throat aches from the force of my yelling.

“Sienna...” He reaches for me again. I lash out, hitting and punching him wherever I can.

“I hate you. I fucking hate you!” I scream as he tries to deflect my blows. He growls, grabbing me and pinning me against the bed.

“Enough!” he screams in my face, and I stop fighting, realizing it’s useless. And there is no point giving him more “so-called” reasons to punish me.

“Are you done?” he asks, his voice icy. I press my lips in a line, my eyes stinging with the tears I am trying to hold back. Since yesterday, I have craved his presence, yet he never showed up, then when he does it turns into this mess.

“You knew I was married. I have obligations to my kingdom and my wife . You will learn to deal with it or—” he stops. “It’s only temporary. I need her to sign the divorce papers, so for now, I need to give her what she wants.”

“What if she wants you?” I ask.

His jaw clenches. “As I said, it’s only temporary to keep the peace between kingdoms.”

My eyes burn with tears. “Were you with her last night?” I ask him, my voice coming off angrier than intended.

“Yes, I had to attend a dinner with her parents. I didn’t fuck her, if that is what you’re wondering. I slept in her quarters on the couch!” he says.

I say nothing, staring off toward the window. He releases me, muttering under his breath. “I have to leave in an hour. I have an important meeting in the city.”

“Good for you,” I tell him bitterly, climbing off the bed and retaking my place on the windowsill. He curses, storming into the bathroom and slamming the door shut. I hear the shower turn on.

I don’t know how much time passes, but I hear him trying to talk to me as he gets dressed.

When silence falls, I realize I’ve zoned out and let out a sigh.

“Sienna!” he commands, and I roll my eyes, turning to look at him as he stands by the bed, doing up his suit jacket.

When he is done, he points to the bed where I see a dress laid out.

“Get dressed. We leave in ten minutes.” he snaps at me before doing up his other cuff link.

My emotions are a whirlwind of fear, anger, and confusion.

Why would he want me to go with him now, after all that’s happened?

Despite my feelings, I comply, hastily getting dressed in the clothes he left on the bed.

I can feel his eyes on me as I move to strip my clothes off, but I refuse to look at him.

The scent of his cologne hangs heavily in the air, and it churns my stomach.

I pull on a dark blue dress, trying to ignore the way the fabric clings to my body, making me feel exposed under his gaze. Xandros says nothing when he passes me a pair of black glittery flats. I sit on the edge of the bed and slip them on, feeling nervous with him standing over me.

The room is dimly lit, shadows casting eerie patterns on the walls now that the sun has gone down, and the atmosphere feels heavy with tension.

We leave the room, the anger and hurt still simmer beneath the surface, but for now, I push them aside and focus on the opportunity before me.

I’m leaving the room, finally leaving the room. As we step outside the door, I see three maids waiting in the hall, one of which is the girl he yelled at earlier, making my thoughts go back to Darcy. I want to ask but am afraid of the answer.