Page 27 of Lycan King’s Claim (Lycan King’s Reign Duet #2)

“I’ve hurt her enough; I am not going to force her to watch another woman be crowned Queen in her place.

I am also not going to make her raise my kids with Carina.

You and I both know that will be Vin’s next move, forcing a child into a loveless marriage to solidify the treaty, to join our kingdoms as one,” I remind Javier.

“Have you told Sienna this?” he asks. I shake my head before walking out of my office to see if I can catch Elder Ridion to give him a heads-up and to expect an altercation. “Not yet, but she’ll know soon enough.”

Walking outside, the parking lot is filled with cars all the way out to the road when I spot a car I recognize, which stops me in my tracks as it passes the iron gates. Turning to Javier, he looks away, telling me he saw the car too.

“Javier?” I ask him.

He swallows guiltily, and a growl tears out of me as I turn to go search for Sienna. They all lied to me, Javier, Carina, all of them lied to me! Storming back into the castle, I am stopped by Javier, who grabs my arm. I spin on him, “You lied to me!” I snarl angrily.

“Well, you have a tendency to go off the deep end, my king. You want your mate alive, just as Carina wants hers. You can have yours, but she can’t have her’s? Exactly how is that fair?” Javier asks. I blink at him, shocked by his words.

“Wait…. Carina?” It suddenly hits me. A memory from that night, how she and Javier fought when I returned. How they insisted he was dead.

I nod once, my eyes going to the iron gates. “Just keep him away from me!” I snap, stalking off toward the function area that has been set up, searching for Ridion.

The wedding is about to begin, and I find myself filled with nervous energy.

As I take my seat at the head of the table, I can feel the weight of the decision I am about to make.

I address the Council elder, stating my intentions to call off the wedding and break the treaty.

He purses his lips anxiously. “King Vin won’t like this,” Ridion states.

I wait silently, watching as he processes my words.

“This will start a war,” he adds, and I nod. I’m very well aware of that.

“Have you told Carina this?”

“Not yet, but I will,” I tell him.

“No, it needs to be with witnesses,” He cringes.

“I hate to hurt the girl, her father is strict, but I don’t think Vin will declare war with so many people present.

It’ll force people to pick sides. He’ll start war once home within the safety of his kingdom.

He isn’t stupid enough to start a war on your territory where he is outnumbered. ” he sighs heavily.

“Your Majesty, are you certain about this?” Ridion asks cautiously.

“I am,” I assert, meeting his gaze unwaveringly. “This marriage is not based on love or even mutual respect at this point, and I cannot go through with it.”

“But breaking the treaty could have serious consequences,” he warns me again.

“I am aware of the potential consequences,” I respond firmly. “But I cannot marry someone I do not love, and I will not force Sienna to watch me marry another.”

“You’re willing to give up your throne for this woman?” he questions.

“I am,” I answer, my voice steady. “My position as king means nothing if I cannot have the woman I love by my side.” he nods, and the hint of a smile tugs at his lips.

“About time you came to your senses,” Ridion adds, and I chuckle.

“Then let’s get this over with.” I follow Ridion outside, and we make our way toward the altar.

The wedding area is filled with both the people of my kingdom and Vin’s. The low hum of voices buzz as they discuss the upcoming nuptials.

Passing through the crowd of people, the sweet scent of flowers and the nauseating stench of perfume makes my stomach churn.

I stand at the end of the aisle. My mother and father take their seats, and my mother looks at me, defeated. Noticing the Council guards and Council members, I nod to Ridion, and he nods back in return.

I peer around for Sienna only to see her right at the back, she’s wearing her uniform, and my heart sinks seeing the depressed look on her face. I move to go see her and let her know of my plans to call it off, but the music starts, and the celebrant motions for me to remain where I am.

Everyone turns to look down the aisle as Carina steps out of the castle, her arm looped through her father’s, who is beaming like he just won Father of the Year.

My eyes move to Sienna, who has turned to look at Carina. I feel the sadness and longing through the bond, and it pains me more. Opening the mind-link, I push against hers and I am surprised she lets me in.

“That will be you next time,” I tell her, and she glances at me.

“Maybe in a different lifetime,” she replies when everyone suddenly stands. I want to tell her that it will be in this lifetime that I am about to declare war if needed and won’t be marrying Carina. She turns to face Carina as she walks down the aisle toward me.

Carina makes her way down the aisle, looking just as defeated as I feel.

Her hair is braided and twisted into a knot on the top of her head, an uncanny resemblance to the first time I saw her.

She is wearing a simple white dress that makes her look beautiful, not that her beauty will ever match Sienna’s.

Not in my eyes. Her gaze is downcast as she approaches the altar where I stand waiting.

Vin stops at the little step leading up to the podium.

I offer Carina my hand, which she takes but doesn’t lift her gaze to mine.

We take our positions and the celebrant talks.

Carina’s hands in mine feel tiny, yet clammy.

Her heart is pounding so hard in her chest I can hear it, and when she finally lifts her gaze to me, I see nothing but fear.

She has light makeup on, just enough to hide the dark circles under her eyes and also highlight them, but not enough to hide their fear. She is holding a small bouquet of white roses instead of the red she chose, which confuses me for a second.

Carina glances out at the crowd, and my eyes go to her father, who glares daggers at her, and she swallows before turning back to me.

The celebrant speaks, doing the usual wedding ceremony stuff, and I drown him out just wanting to get to the “I do’s” so I can say I won’t.

Suddenly, the mind-link opens up, and Javier comes through.

“Bad timing, Javier. I am about to start world war three,” I warn him, glancing at him where he sits beside Sienna at the back.

“I know, but Lex mind-linked me. Toby is out there about to cause the same for Carina,” Javier informs me. Now this surprises me; I knew he was here, but had he seriously come to try to stop the wedding, knowing it could end in his death?

“I need orders, my King. They said they can’t hold him down forever, and he knocked out Henry already. Do you want me to go?”

“No, remain here. I may need you. Tell Lex my plans, and tell him to tell Toby to stay out of sight until after the wedding is called off and to stay the fuck away from my mate!”

“Yes, my king,” Javier replies, cutting the link.

I zone back into my surroundings, suddenly weirded out, knowing the man who nearly ran off with my mate, is mate’s with my wife.

What a small world we live in; everyone is connected in the most unimaginable ways.

It makes me feel less guilty about refusing to marry Carina.

Just as the celebrant finished saying whatever the heck he was saying, he turned to me, staring at me expectantly. Right, we are at that part now. I open my mouth to announce I won’t go through with it when Carina lets my hands go and takes a step back from me.

“Miss Carina?” the celebrant reaches out to her worriedly. Carina jerks away from him, her eyes squeezed shut, and she is visibly shaking.

“I’m sorry. I can’t marry Xandros. I won’t do it,” she whispers.

A collective gasp rings out, and she opens her eyes. Carina’s gaze sweeps across the Council members, avoiding her father’s gaze entirely, while her mother looks on, pale as a ghost.

“I found my mate. Xandros has his..... I’m sorry you’ve wasted your time. But I want to be with my mate,” she says before turning to look at me.

“And you should be with yours,” she tells me, her eyes filled with sincerity.

“Forget the treaty. It isn’t worth losing our mates. I get it now,” she whispers, and her voice cracks.

I glance at Sienna, who sits at the back, trying to remain hidden; she looks stunned by Carina’s words, and her eyes dart to me in confusion. Carina steps off the platform, and the moment she does, Vin jumps up from his seat, his face red with rage.

“You get back up there right this instant!” King Vin screams at her, pointing back at the podium. Carina, however, lifts her chin and stands her ground. “No!” she snaps.

King Vin steps closer to her, but she doesn’t budge, while everyone holds their breath to see what will happen. “I won’t do it.” she retorts.

“Oh, you’ll marry him, alright. Just remember what you’ll come home to if you don’t! Now get up there, or I’ll send my guard to fetch your pathetic mate and make him fucking watch!” Vin’s threat hangs heavy in the air, and I can see the fear in Carina’s eyes.

While I am trying to figure out what his words mean. Is this why she refused to call the wedding off because she feared going home to whatever King Vin refers to? Those witnessing whisper among themselves, and the Council members stare at Vin in horror over him threatening his daughter.

I step down behind Carina, my hand falling on her shoulder. She tenses for a second, then relaxes when she notices it is me.

“Carina doesn’t have to go home. She’s welcome in my kingdom,” I tell Vin, taking the next step down from the podium. He laughs, shaking his head, waving a finger in Carina’s face.

“You’ve betrayed me for the last time; I won’t allow you to marry that fool,” Vin snaps.