Page 13 of Prey of the Lycan Queen (Unwanted #2)

Chapter Thirteen

The city lights twinkle in the darkness as we make our way home, having spent the day with Kelly.

The stars reflect off the slick streets that are still wet from the evening rainfall, and the air is heavy with the scent of damp earth.

It’s a comforting scent that reminds me of back home in the caves.

Regan has been strangely quiet all day, but his silence now seems sullen and serious. He has one arm draped protectively around my shoulders, his touch warm and solid, yet there’s a tension in him that sets off warning bells in my head.

“Regan,” I begin, breaking the silence. His gaze remains firmly fixed on the road ahead.

“Regan,” I say a little more firmly, and this time, he turns to look at me.

There’s a shadow in his eyes, something I’ve never seen before, and it makes my heart clench with unease.

“What did your uncle mean when he said some of them aren’t deserving of me?

” I question, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What will I find when I visit Zeke and Lyon’s kingdoms? ”

Regan sighs deeply. “I haven’t been to their kingdoms in years, Zirah. Not since...Not for a long time,” he confesses, his voice heavy with emotion.

“But surely you must have heard others speak of their kingdoms,” I ask, but his eyes stare blankly ahead again, and it’s clear I’m not getting anything out of him.

Gnash brushes against my leg, and I glance down, running my fingers through his soft fur.

“What’s most important right now is that if we go to war with Bloodtaric, we’ll be outnumbered.

Your only chance of beating the Vampiric King is with all our kingdoms behind you.

It’s the only reason he hasn’t challenged us for our kingdoms before now.

When we are united, he knows he stands no chance.

I can guarantee that word has gotten back to him, and he’s already looking for a weak spot.

He’s just waiting for you to slip up or cast us out. That is when he’ll attack.”

The oppressive silence on our journey home seems to echo the weight of his words. I have been thrust into a war that I was not prepared for, yet I have no choice but to stride forward.

I focus on keeping my voice strong despite the trembling in my heart. “Then there is no time to delay the inevitable. I will leave tomorrow to visit each of the three kingdoms.”

Regan studies me with surprise in his gaze, and his eyebrows furrow as he attempts to form a response. He draws in a deep breath and shakes his head. “Are you sure about this, Zirah?” he asks.

“Positive,” I respond. “We can start with yours.”

Regan seems to consider his words as he opens his mouth to speak before promptly closing it again. He swallows thickly and shakes his head. “No, Lyon’s kingdom is closer,” he says quickly, and his change in demeanor alarms me. Why did he hesitate?

I decide to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. We will soon find out what secrets are being kept within his kingdom walls. I just hope I haven’t made a mistake, either way, from Kelly said I can reverse it if I choose.

Near the castle, the lights filter through the trees, and I can see Zeke and Lyon speaking with Malachi by the gates.

When Hunter and Shadow catch my scent, they bark and dash ahead, their tails wagging furiously. Zeke’s and Lyon’s heads snap in our direction, their eyes widening at the sight of us.

As we approach, I can’t help but notice how tense the atmosphere is, and I immediately know that something is wrong. Malachi, Zeke, and Lyon all wear grave expressions, and their hands are clenched in tight fists. Something happened.

“Zirah!” Zeke exclaims. “We didn’t expect to see you back before dinner.”

“What happened?” I ask, my heart racing at the thought of what could have gone wrong.

“You need to come inside,” Malachi says urgently, turning on his heel and leading us toward the castle gates.

As we walk through the grand entrance hall and into the throne room, I can sense a dark and sinister energy lurking.

The air is heavy with tension. Lyon steps forward and places his hand on my shoulder.

“Zirah, there’s been an attack,” he says gravely.

“One of our scouts was ambushed by the Vampire King’s guard, another was taken. ”

My heart sinks. This is exactly what Regan warned me about. We are already at war, whether we like it or not, and if King Slavic is willing to strike at our scouts, it means that he is more than willing to launch a full-scale assault on our kingdoms.

“What can we do?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“We need to prepare for war,” Zeke says with a shrug like it is no big deal. “We’ll send out more scouts and gather as much information as possible about the vampiric forces. We need to know what we’re up against.”

Regan wraps his arms around me from behind, holding me close in a protective embrace. “Don’t worry,” he whispers in my ear. “We’ll keep you safe.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about, it’s the people here,” I tell him.

“And that, my girl, is the least of your worries.” We all turn to see James moving toward us. “I take it you’ve decided?”

“Well, I can hardly leave now,” I tell him.

“Nonsense, this is just more reason to,” James replies, and I glance over at Zeke and Lyon, who stare at me, waiting to hear my decision.

“You’ve decided?” Zeke asks eagerly with a sly smile.

I purse my lips, not having forgotten about last night quite yet.

He seems to know where my thoughts go because he smirks and licks his lips.

My eyes go to them, remembering the feel of his tongue on my body as the mate bond reared its slutty head.

I take a step toward him before shaking my head, having no idea what I was planning to do. My sudden awkwardness only makes Zeke’s smile broaden. “Zeke!” Lyon elbows him in the stomach, making him grunt and double over.

“What?” Zeke growls.

“You know what!” Lyon growls back, and I glance at him, but he shakes his head.

“So you’ve decided?” Lyon asks.

“I have,” I begin, my voice cutting through the tense air, my words aimed at Zeke and Lyon. “I’m willing to give you both one chance to prove yourselves.” My gaze flits between them, a silent challenge suspended between us.

Zeke’s eyes flare with anger. “So, you’ll give us a proper chance?

” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly.

Lyon and Zeke exchange a look of eagerness and uncertainty.

“Whose kingdom are you visiting first?” Zeke arches a brow as he looks between me and Regan.

He doesn’t flinch under my scrutinizing gaze, instead, his stance exudes a reckless confidence.

“We’ll start with Lyon’s,” I reply, my voice crisp and clear despite the apprehension that bubbles in my guts. I’m no longer here to play the victim in their dumb games, and I hope my response emphasizes that I am not to be messed with.

Zeke’s thick lips pull into a smirk. “Why not start with Regan’s?” His voice is mockingly sweet as he glances at his brother standing behind me. I peer over my shoulder to see Regan’s jaw tighten. Why does he seem so angry?

“Regan’s kingdom is the furthest away,” I reply, brushing his mockery aside. “But he will be my escort through both of your kingdoms.”

“Really, is that right?” Lyon chimes in, his voice dripping with sarcasm, and my skin prickles as he takes a step toward me.

His comment seems odd. He’s usually pretty passive when it comes to Regan, but he’s eyeing him sharply.

Is he trying to avoid me visiting his kingdom first?

Whatever he’s trying to pull, it isn’t going to work.

Before I can probe further into Lyon’s intentions, James interrupts my thoughts. “Zirah,” he begins gently, drawing our attention away from each other. “Zirah, perhaps you should spend some time with each of them alone.”

James’s suggestion catches me off guard, and I eye him skeptically before turning my attention back to the brothers. The air in the room shifts as they exchange a look, and Zeke’s smirk fades as though he knows something that I don’t.

“What do you mean?” I ask James cautiously, keeping my gaze on the brothers.

“I think it would be wise for you to go on your own and spend time alone with each of them,” he repeats calmly. “That way you can get to know them better, understand who they are as people.”

My eyes narrow, but I remain silent, weighing his words carefully.

After a few moments of contemplation, I reluctantly agree to James’s suggestion, drawing a deep breath to steady my nerves as I turn back to Zeke and Lyon.

Their eyes are still trained on me intently as if reading through my thoughts.

“Very well,” I say, finally nodding at both Lyon and Zeke before addressing James. “When should we go then?”

He nods back, a faint smile playing on his lips. “You can leave at first light tomorrow morning,” he says.

“Fine,” I agree, drawing a deep breath to steady my nerves. “But what about the Vampire Kingdom?”

“Leave that to me, Regan, and Zeke to figure out for now.” Without further explanation, he spins on his heel and takes off, leaving us in the throne room.

I’ve stepped into a world far removed from my own, but I won’t be deterred. I’m here for a reason. I have a purpose that goes beyond the power plays of the lycan world. I’m here to see whether the lycan species will continue to exist.

I turn to face Zeke and Lyon again, a newfound determination in my gaze. “You’ve got your chance. Don’t waste it,” I tell them firmly, though my voice has taken on a gentler note.

The brothers exchange a look and then both nod in understanding. “We won’t,” Zeke finally speaks up, his eyes meeting mine in an unspoken promise. I can see the calculating glint in his gaze, but I also see his conviction beneath the surface, and I know he means what he says.

My lips twitch into a faint smile as I turn toward Lyon. He’s standing with his hands clenched into fists at his sides, looking off into the distance as if lost in thought. His expression is hard to read, but I can sense the tension radiating off him in waves.

“I will see you first thing in the morning,” I tell him, and he nods once before turning and leaving.

As my words linger in the air, a silent vow wraps itself around me.

I will navigate through their worlds, dissect their truths and lies alike, and I won’t rest until I’ve attained justice for my mother and a reign over this world that is rightfully mine.

Despite my lingering doubts about what’s to come, I know one thing with crystal clarity; it’s checkmate for the lycan kings.