Page 17 of Lycan King’s Claim (Lycan King’s Reign Duet #2)

G ently, I lift her in my arms, her weight feeling strangely lighter than before.

Guilt gnaws at my insides, a reminder of the havoc I have wreaked upon her.

Even her heartbeat, now faint and fragile, double beats and seems to flutter like the wings of a hummingbird.

Is it because of our bond, our connection slowly breaking?

Holding her close, I feel the longing of my own bond, yearning for its mate, while hers recoils, trembling with fear.

Movement catches my attention, and I shift my gaze to Javier, who stirs awake in a nearby chair.

His eyes meet mine, filled with worry and apprehension.

Without a word, his gaze drifts to Sienna, naked and vulnerable in my arms. Slowly, he shrugs off his jacket, stepping towards us cautiously, as if afraid that I may not have regained full control.

He covers Sienna's form with his jacket. "You wouldn't let me near," Javier explains, his voice laced with concern. "I tried to cover her, but I couldn't leave either of you in such a vulnerable state," he adds, exhaling heavily.

I nod in acknowledgement, thankful for his presence mingling with the weight of my guilt.

"I've ruined her, haven't I?" I ask, my voice filled with anguish.

"Her bond still clings to life, some part of her is still hanging onto the bond.

You haven't lost her yet," Javier whispers, his words carrying a sense of mystery.

"But I don't understand why. And now, I have destroyed everything. The wedding is tomorrow, there is no going back," I admit, my voice heavy with resignation.

Javier sighs, the weight of my predicament settling upon him like it is me.

Together, we face the consequences of our actions, grappling with the shattered fragments of our lives. The future looms uncertain, clouded by the sins of my stupidity. And as I gaze down at Sienna, my heart aches with the knowledge that I may have irreparably broken the woman who holds my heart.

"I've had a clean up crew sorting the mess outside, they're waiting to enter, have been here for hours. I should get you both home," Javier tells me, and I nod.

Javier leads me out the back of the club, the driver in the limo jolting awake when he hears the door bang shut, he immediately starts the car and I climb in the back with Sienna. "Her heart is beating so fast," I mumble, and Javier tilts his head to the side, listening.

"That's odd," he mumbles. He reaches over to pull the jacket back slightly, and I growl at him.

"She's beautiful Xandros, but I am not after your mate.

" he reminds me and I sigh. He tugs it back, revealing her breast, but his attention isn't on them but the marks covering her body.

"Your mark almost seems to be poisoning her. "

"The bond I state," and Javier nods sadly, covering her back up.

"She's not healing properly. It explains why her heart rate is so faint but so fast," he sighs, scrubbing a hand down his tired face.

"Stay with her today, it might help her heal," he tells me, but I shake my head.

Sienna doesn't want me near, or at least her bond doesn't. However, I also need to figure out this entire situation with Carina, the wedding, the Council, but most importantly I need to figure out how to save our bond.

"I need to find a way to stop this wedding," I remind him.

* * *

Awakening in my own bed, confusion washes over me.

The foggy remnants of the previous night's horror fade like a nightmare dissipating with the dawn.

I have no memory of my return to my room, making me wonder how Xandros is.

With a heavy sigh, I push myself upright from doing up my shoes and I am about to leave the room with Javier, who only tells me that Xandros is working.

However, when I go to head to Carina's room, Adina is waiting for me.

I almost groan seeing her, especially when I see she is wearing shorts and a crop top.

She hauls me to the gym, even when I refuse to train, she announces it has suddenly become part of my chores.

"Adina?" I ask as I get changed back into my uniform.

"Hm?" she answers, wiping sweat off the back of her neck.

I cast a glance at Javier, who stands by the wall.

Always keeping guard, he may not be watching us explicitly, but I know he's listening.

Stepping closer, I drop my voice. "Please don't be mad at me for asking but no one else will answer, and Xandros was angry when he said he killed Toby and so was I, so I am not sure if he meant his words or he just said it to hurt me. " I tell her, chewing my lip nervously.

"Well, I am not afraid of my son," she tells me.

I hesitate, but I need to know and every time I have tried to ask Javier he ignores the question, and Xandros might keep his word and remove my tongue.

I haven't had a chance to ask Carina as I am never alone with her to ask without prying ears of the castle staff.

"Did Xandros say what happened to Toby?" I ask and she sighs.

"Wouldn't you rather not know? Because I am afraid the answer won't be what you're after," she tells me, and my stomach sinks.

I swallow, feeling guilty of my idiocy, and stealing his life from him.

I nod once and finish getting changed to begin my day, my mind whirling with questions.

Leaving the gym, Adina and I part ways and I head to retrieve my list of chores.

Hours pass by in a blur as I lose myself in the mundane rhythm of chores. As always, the grandeur of the palace is untouched by the unraveling of my world, its grand halls glinting in the sunlight, its ornate decorations undisturbed. The absence of Carina is the only noticeable change today.

My concern for her gnaws at the edges of my consciousness, but something is up with her. I don't understand why I care where she is. She is marrying my mate. I should hate her, still I find I can't. Some part of me understands she is in a bad situation just as I am.