Page 11 of Lycan King’s Claim (Lycan King’s Reign Duet #2)

I scoff. "Force me to be their nanny? What about me? My bond is to remain tortured while yours gets the best of both worlds? You get to keep your kingdom, your wife, while leaving me in a corner, away from the public eye, a prisoner to a bond I never asked for in the first place?"

"It wouldn't have been like that. I would have found a way… I told you this!" he snaps.

"And I told you I won't have anyone die because of me. I won't allow a war to be started, and I won't enslave humankind," I argue.

"That would have been on me, not you. I wanted to be with you! I fucking love you! You had to run off and with him of all people!" he growls, shoving off me before he storms out, leaving me broken, shattered once more.

The next day dawns with the piercing shrill of Javier's voice echoing through the walls of my imprisonment, tearing me from the clutches of restless sleep. He rouses me from my fragile dreams, his urgency evident as he urges me to rise early.

"Quick up, we need to be quick, and you should eat before we start," he tells me.

There is an air of secrecy laced within his words, a hidden purpose that stirs unease within me.

Reluctantly, I follow him down to the dimly lit gym, my mind clouded with questions that hang heavy in the stagnant air.

Why am I here? What purpose does this training serve?

It feels like a futile endeavor, an empty act in a life devoid of hope.

As we enter the gym, I notice the imposing figure of Rehan, his presence commanding the room.

"Morning, Sienna. I've missed our training, exercise is keeping these limbs moving," he huffs.

I raise an eyebrow and glance at Javier.

"You woke me, so I could train? I could be sleeping right now!

" I turn to look at King Rehan. "And I get enough exercise climbing the thousands of stairs in this castle while doing chores, besides, I haven’t seen King Vin in days,” I tell him.

“That’s because he’s away visiting his mate. He’ll be back, hopefully never! But just in case,” he says, pointing to the mats laid out.

Confusion tugs at the corners of my mind as I glance between Rehan and Javier, seeking answers that remain elusive.

The entrance door groans open. Xandros stands at the threshold, accompanied by his mother, their expressions etched with a mixture of shock and disbelief. My heart quickens its pace, the sight of him stirring a whirlwind of emotions within me.

Xandros's voice cuts through the silence, laced with a demand for answers. "What is the meaning of this?" he demands, his gaze piercing through the gym's haze to lock onto our entangled figures. I remain silent, my voice lost amidst the turmoil that churns within me.

Xandros's father steps forward, his voice laden with a hint of weariness. "We are just training, Xandros," he explains, his words carrying an undercurrent of unspoken tension. The revelation hangs heavy in the air, a bombshell dropped amidst the chaos that ensnares us.

Confusion dances across Xandros's face as he struggles to comprehend the purpose behind this unexpected turn of events.

"Training? For what?" he inquires, his voice veiled in a mixture of intrigue and incredulity.

And at that moment, the truth unfurls before me like a dark presence, casting its shadow over my life.

Rehan's guilt-ridden gaze averts from my own, his silence echoing the haunting revelation.

My eyes widen in horror as the realization takes hold.

"Well, I am hoping to train her to fight for your hand," he announces.

He wants me to engage in a battle that promises nothing but a trail of bloodshed and ends in my death.

I struggle to find my voice amidst the suffocating weight of his words, my disbelief threatening to consume me. I shake my head, wanting Xandros to know I was not aware of this, this wasn't what I was told.

Xandros's laughter pierces the fragile confines of the gym, his gaze fixated on me with a mix of amusement and mockery. "So, it seems you think you can fight Carina for my hand," he mocks, his voice laced with a twisted humor.

His words lacerate my already wounded heart, plunging me into a pit of despair.

"Now I've heard everything," he taunts, his tone dripping with incredulity. With a swift motion, he begins to remove his shirt, a predatory gleam in his eyes as he stalks toward me.

"Well then, let's see what she's got then; let's test if she actually stands a chance against her.

" Xandros snarls angrily. He shakes his head angrily while I back up.

"I can't believe you would be this foolish, Javier, to even entertain this old man's ridiculous idea!

" He snaps at Javier. Peering at him, he seems just as shocked as me. He swiftly shakes his head.

"I was under the assumption this was purely for defense in case Vin came after her," Javier defends, and I nod.

Xandros stops, turning to look at him. "Really, Javier?

What chance in hell would she have against anyone here, even the fucking maids, let alone a royal vampire?

" he screams, glaring between his father and Javier.

"She's a quick learner, she's picked it up quite well," his father defends.

Xandros laughs. "Fine, I will entertain this insanity, come on," he motions for me to step forward, and my eyes go to Rehan, Javier, and then fall on Adina, who has watched silently from the side of the gym.

I shake my head. "Now… you think you're good enough, you're just as bad as him for entertaining my father with this silly game," he mocks.

Fear takes root within me, my heart pounding in my chest as I instinctively retreat, seeking refuge from the storm that approaches.

However, there is no escape from this impending nightmare.

Xandros's snarl reverberates through the air, his rage palpable as he confronts me. "Let's see what you've got," he sneers, his words laced with a dangerous challenge.

My legs tremble beneath me, my body rigid with a potent mixture of fear and adrenaline when he lunges at me. I attempt to defend myself, to dodge his strikes, but his onslaught is relentless. With each blow, I stumble backward, my every movement weighed by the burden of his growing wrath.

The memories of his previous acts of violence flash before my eyes, haunting my every thought, and I trip over my own feet trying to evade him.

Instinctively, I raise my hands to shield my face, expecting the pain of his impact to follow.

Instead of striking me, he seizes my trembling face within his grasp.

"She'll eat you alive if you're stupid enough to get in an arena with her," he spits at me.

"Enough, Xandros. You've proven your point, now we all know how petrified of you she is!" Adina's voice pierces through the suffocating atmosphere, her words echoing. Xandros glares over his shoulder at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means exactly what I said, leave her be, she clearly had no idea of your father's intentions, and you're punishing her for doing as she is told, by a former king!" she snaps. Xandros's snarl reverberates through the gym, his eyes ablaze with a volatile mixture of anger and frustration.

"And you idiots think she'll fight for my hand?" he roars, his laughter devoid of mirth. "It's fucking suicide!" The weight of his words hangs heavily in the air, the finality of his decision sealing the fate of my shattered hopes.

"Now pack this shit up, and get her back to her fucking room," he orders. He snatches his shirt up off the ground before he storms out, leaving me behind shaken, while everyone stares in shock at what happened.

Adina stands at a distance, her gaze fixed upon the retreating figure of her son, Xandros.

Lips pursed with a mixture of concern and frustration, she turns her attention back to me, her piercing eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions I've never seen on her face before. "Get out, both of you!" she growls.

I feel a knot of apprehension tighten within me as Javier and Rehan exchange nervous glances. A sense of vulnerability floods me, amplified by the prospect of being left alone with Adina, who commands an aura of authority that leaves no room for escape.

Rehan's voice trembles as he interjects, a hesitant plea to ease Adina's anger. "Adina, love. Please, this is my fault. Don't take it out on her. She was only following orders," he says, his voice tinged with remorse.

Adina's steely gaze remains fixed upon me, her resolve unyielding.

"I said, get out," she snarls at her husband, her words sharp as a blade.

Reluctantly, Rehan heeds her command, casting one last worried glance in my direction before leaving, leaving me alone in the presence of this formidable queen.

Adina moves toward the training bag, her movements deliberate and purposeful.

I watch her intently, my heart racing with a mix of trepidation and curiosity.

She rummages through the bag, retrieving a hair tie before standing upright.

My voice quivers with a tinge of uncertainty as I attempt to engage her in conversation.

"Adina, I understand you're upset about me training with your husband—" Before I can finish my sentence, she swiftly swings her hair forward, using one of my hair ties to secure it into a tight bun atop her head. I'm left momentarily bewildered, struggling to grasp the intention behind her actions.

"What are you doing?" I manage to stammer, my eyes fixated on the unexpected transformation unfolding before me. She steps out of her dress, leaving her in nothing but her boy shorts, a thin Cami and bra. Adina's gaze meets mine, her expression firm while also tinged with a hint of amusement.

"Training you," she answers simply, her voice carrying a sense of authority that leaves no room for argument. A flurry of questions swirls within me, seeking answers she doesn’t provide.