Page 13 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings (Unwanted #1)

His eyes flicker dangerously when King Regan clamps a hand on his shoulder.

“So tense, brother. Imagine the fun we can have breaking her. Let her shower first. If we have to playhouse to appease our father, so be it, but we might as well enjoy her as we do,” King Regan says coldly, as his lips tip into a smirk.

“Besides, I give her a week before she kills herself, then you’ll have Hunter back at your side where he belongs. ”

The maid touches my arm, forcing my attention to her, and I am thankful. I’d go anywhere with her if it means getting away from these three men. Maybe I can figure out how to escape this place. “Zirah? If you’ll follow me,” she says, nodding toward the stairs.

“Right, come on Hunter,” I call Zeke’s wolf, who instantly obeys. Zeke growls behind me, the sound sending a chill up my spine, and I peer over my shoulder at him and smile. Zeke moves to take a step toward the stairs when King Lyon grabs his arm.

“Forget her. Regan is right. She won’t last a week.”

“Easy for you to say. She hasn’t stolen your wolf,” Zeke snarls.

“Yet!” I offer, listening as I climb the steps, earning growls and snarls from all three men this time. Shelley nudges me, giving me a strange look, and I move to keep up with her.

When we reach the first landing, she turns for the next set of stairs. “You really shouldn’t antagonize them. King Theron may be alright and somewhat humane, but his sons?” Shelley shudders. “Try not to get on their bad side.”

“I think I have already done that,” I murmur, following behind her closely.

Shelley stops and glances around nervously. “I shouldn’t say anything. If King Theron knew, he would kill me for such betrayal. But none of his sons deserve the throne. They are cruel and barbaric. The things they have done...” Shelley shakes her head and bites her lip.

Looking at her aura, I can see she is being genuine. The white light casting off it though, I do find it slightly strange. It flickers with green edges before she clears her throat, and I find her watching me strangely.

“I’m sure he can tell his sons are undeserving of any throne, he simply does not care.” I look away from the maid, not liking the way she is staring at me intently.

“He cares. That is why you’re here, but—” she peers back down the stairs before stepping closer to me and whispering.

“They will kill you. Those men will not be bound to a woman. Your best bet is to run the moment you have a chance,” she whispers, stepping away and casting a nervous glance over her shoulder. She continues walking, not adding anything else to the matter.

We turn down a corridor before climbing another set of stairs, and with the twists and turns, I quickly lose direction.

Glancing at Shelley, she appears to be troubled with her thoughts, and her soft face grows stern.

“Give Zeke back his wolf. He won’t leave you alone until you do.

He won’t kill his wolf. Those wolves are the only thing I have ever seen them show any kind of emotion to since they lost their mother,” she tells me abruptly.

“Did their mother die recently?” I ask. Shelley only appears to be my age, so she can’t have worked here long, unless the king uses child labor.

“No, around twenty years ago. She was the last female lycan. The kingdom’s pride and joy. I was Queen Electra’s maid before I became the king’s maid. I served her since the boys were born.” I stop in my tracks and stare at her.

“But you’re human? How could you have served the queen over twenty years ago when you are my age?”

“Yes, I am human, but the king gives me his blood. Before that, the queen did. We were close friends. After losing her, he kept me on.”

“So essentially, lycan blood keeps you immortal like their wolves?” Shelley nods as we reach the next landing, and she leads me down a long corridor toward a set of double doors.

“Yes, as long as I have his blood, I will remain alive,” she tells me.

I try to wrap my head around what she is telling me. “Do they give all the maids their blood?” I ask.

“No, only me. King Theron has taken a liking to me. I think it’s because I don’t fear him as the other maids do.

” She shrugs, pushing the doors open. “This is the three kings’ quarters, though each room might as well be a wing of its own.

The first door is Lyon’s, and Zeke is in this one beside where I’m placing you.

” She points to the blue door beside the one we stop in front of.

“I think I’d rather sleep in the stables,” I mutter, not enjoying being this close to King Zeke when he wants my head on a pike.

“Unfortunately, this is the only guest quarters in this wing. The last door on your right is King Regan’s, but try not to go into his room.

He doesn’t even allow the maids in to clean when he stays at the kingdom.

His room is strictly off limits,” she tells me before pushing the doors open to the guest quarters.

The room is massive with enormous bay windows overlooking the rose gardens below and a huge four-poster bed that sits dead center of the room.

Other rooms branch off it, and I stare around the vast space wondering why people need so much junk and tapestry.

The room is lavish, and I feel out of place, much preferring my little branch of the cave I shared with Granny.

This room feels far too open and exposed for my liking.

Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceilings, and thick fur rugs cover the floors. Walking in further, I find a massive fireplace. Books line the mantle above it.

Shelley wanders over to a set of doors and pushes them open.

“You’ll find towels and everything you need to shower in here.

I will return with some clothes for you.

If I am not back from town before you hop out, you can just wear the robe.

” I nod to her, peering into the bathroom with trepidation.

Outside of Granny’s books and magazines, I’ve never seen a bathroom before, and certainly none this grand.

Hunter follows me in as I look over the marble sink basin and huge bathtub. Shelley turns to leave, but I quickly stop her.