Page 38 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings (Unwanted #1)

Regan grabs the soap. “Yes, he killed my great grandfather first. We turned a blind eye to it. But then my grandfather, it started long before Litha, but ended with her. That’s what started the war between them.

Then, when our kingdom went to war, we discovered his mate, Litha, was expecting a little girl.

This fight had been brewing for more than a century, but the curse started almost 20 years ago, when he supposedly killed my grandfather, that was when the war broke out.

” My face scrunches up as I think hard about what Granny has told me over the years of the great war, she always spoke like it was something that happened before her time, not something she was around for.

“So, not that long ago?”

“In human years it may seem like a long time ago, time is irrelevant though when you’re immortal.” Regan shrugs.

“How old are you?” I ask him, curiously. He chuckles and rests his head back and stares at the ceiling. “Old, too old, but not old by lycan standards.”

“So 100?” he smirks and raises an eyebrow at me.

“200?” I ask.

“I’m one hundred and eleven. Zeke and Lyon are one hundred and seven.” he tells me, and I try to ponder what it would be like to live that long. Honestly, it sounds rather daunting.

“You don’t look that old,” I tell him, and he chuckles.

“We stop aging in our late twenties to early thirties, physically aging I stopped at 28, Zeke he stopped aging at 26, Lyon 27, which physically makes him older than Zeke despite Zeke being 12 hours older than Lyon.” he shrugs.

“Wait, so they’re twins?”

“Technically yes, but born on two separate days, 12 hours apart.” Th at is so confusing, I think to myself.

“I can see you trying to make sense of that, don’t, you’ll only serve to give yourself a headache.” He laughs.

“So, Litha and the curse?”

He nods once and adverts his gaze. “Zeke and I were the ones who found her. We found her trying to escape through the underground tunnels.”

“You killed her?”

“No, we couldn’t do it. When we found her, she was clutching a wall screaming.

She was in labor...I couldn’t do it, and neither could Zeke.

So we tried to help her, Zeke delivered her daughter.

But my father ordered us to bring her to him, but after that, we didn’t want to, so we were going to set them free, help her escape.

However, guards stormed the tunnels where she was.

I tried to stop them when one shot me. I had stepped in front of her and her baby.

The guard who shot me panicked and fired more shots.

Zeke tackled him and took them. Zeke was hit four times in the chest. He lay there dying when a woman came rushing into the tunnels with a bucket of water and towels.

I thought she was Litha’s servant at first because she was human. ”

“Who was she?” I ask.

“Her sister.. .I begged her to help Zeke, but she refused when Litha spoke.” He shakes his head and glares at the wall.

“What did she say?” I whisper, and he looks at me.

“She said she would save him if I let her leave with the woman and her baby,” he says.

“Then how did she die?” I ask when it occurs to me.

“You didn’t let her leave, did you? You let her save him, but then let them die?”

King Regan swallows. “As I said earlier, I am the monster they claim I am. It was never my intention to kill her. We wanted to set them free, but I knew we would be found soon, and if she didn’t save him, he would die.

I was already walking on thin ice with my father, so once they found out where we were, I had no choice but to hand all three of them over.

A month later, Litha was burned alive at the stake. ”

“And the baby and woman?” I ask, but he says nothing. His jaw clenches, and that is enough of an answer. Disappointment fills me, and I look away, dropping the washcloth into the bathtub.

“He’s my brother, Zirah. They would have been killed anyway.”

“You made a deal with a witch and broke it,” I tell him, appalled that he would try to save her then use her and betray her for someone like Zeke.

“Wait, Zirah?”

I shake my head, not wanting to hear pathetic excuses for killing someone he made a promise to. I move to leave when the door opens and in walks Zeke.

Zeke only has on some blue and white plaid flannel pants.

His chest is bare, and I notice that he too has similar markings to Regan.

Regan’s tattoos are of various symbols that I now recognize represent his betrayal of Litha; a lycan head with a King’s crown up in flames is etched across his chest, and down his back is a faceless woman burning.

I know the tattoos were used to try to cover the runes that glow beneath in reverse, however nothing was removing the taint on them that Litha branded into their flesh.

Zeke’s tattoos cover his arms and bleed into his shoulders.

I can see them properly now. I try to figure out what his tattoos represent.

Up one arm are multiple skulls that go from his wrist to his shoulder.

Woven around them are rose vines reminding me of the ones in the maze along with snakes, they weave in out of the skulls before the biggest snake head rests atop the last skull, mouth open wide with blackened eyes, inside the snake’s mouth is an apple.

However, just like Regan’s tattoos, the picture etched into his skin burns in flames and reversed runes.

Seeing him, it makes me wonder if Lyon has tattoos to represent how he is cursed. But what I want to know is how Zeke betrayed Litha. Wasn’t he dying and she saved him, so why does he share the same reversed runes?

“If you’re done gawking at me, love. I have come to ensure you’re sticking to the rules,” Zeke says, stepping closer.

“I’m already done!” I tell him, trying to push past him, but Zeke blocks my way, pressing me back against the sink basin. He grips the back of my neck, forcing me to crane my neck back. I grit my teeth and Regan growls behind him.

“Zeke! Let her go!” Regan snarls behind him.

“I came to see proof!” Zeke laughs, and I clench my teeth.

“She’s already finished. You missed the show,” Regan tells him. “Now get out of my room!”

Zeke glances at him over his shoulder before letting my neck go and grabbing my hands, finding them both wet.

He presses them to his bare chest, running them down to his abs, and I swallow thickly.

He smirks deviously, his eyes flickering.

He growls, pressing closer, so I can feel his entire body press against mine, my hand awkwardly bent as he still grips them when he smiles.

Leaning back, I try to escape him, but he just leans forward, leaving me nowhere to go.

“I can’t wait to see the look on your face when you have your hands wrapped around my cock!” He laughs, letting my hands go before one hand grips my face, squeezing tightly. I try to shove him off, but he forces his knees between my legs, pinning it to the sink basin.

Using his other hand, he traces his thumb across my lips, and I try to press my lips together. However, Zeke pinches my cheeks harder and forces two fingers into my mouth until I gag and retch when they hit the back of my throat.

“Hmm, I think I would prefer the sound of you gagging around my cock!” he growls next to my ear while I try to shove him away.

“Fuck’s sake, Zeke, get off her!” Regan snarls and hits the wall.

I hear him stand, the sound of water splashing the floor.

Zeke then laughs, and Regan snatches a towel, growling at him and Zeke quickly lets me go and saunters out of the bathroom.

I glare at his back and watch him walk out the bedroom door, then rush over to lock it.

Hearing a whimper, I spot Gnash at my feet, watching me.

“He won’t come back, and he knows better than to break my door down.

” King Regan states, coming out with just a towel wrapped around his waist. I avert my gaze, moving toward the couch, hoping he doesn’t immediately want to go to bed.

Just a few minutes more before I have to lie next to one monster that will be responsible for my death if I can’t escape tomorrow night.

Luck is not on my side when I see Regan come out of his closet with just his boxer shorts on.

“Want to go back to your room to get changed and shower?” He asks, and I peer over at him.

“You can take Gnash or I can come with you?”

“Gnash is fine,” I answer, and he nods. Getting up, I rush back to my room with Gnash and find some winter pajamas.

They’re checkered and made of flannel, and not see-through!

Showering quickly, I step out of the shower and get dressed.

After stalling as long as possible and moving at a snail’s pace, I reluctantly leave the room.

Stepping into the corridor, Zeke is leaning against the wall.

“I was wondering if you would come out. Though I am a little upset you did, I was looking forward to dragging you out and punishing you.” Ignoring him, I shove past him, only for him to fling me into the wall and cage me against it.

Gnash snaps at him and Zeke holds his hands up, taking a step back.

“I can’t wait until you’re in my bed, the fun we’ll have!” He taunts, and my stomach sinks at the thought.

“There is plenty I can use you for that’s above the waist. Oh, and we still have bath time, I can’t wait to watch your face when I make you jerk me off and lick me clean.”

“Zirah?” Regan calls out, and I peer over at him.

I rush back to his room, fighting back tears, knowing Zeke will ruin me tomorrow. Why didn’t Shelley make it tonight? Now I will have to suffer an entire night with that monster tomorrow until he falls asleep!

Gnash follows me to the bed, jumping up on it and laying at the foot when Regan locks the door and moves toward the couch.

“You can have the bed, just don’t freak out when I climb in with you in the morning to make sure you’re covered in my scent,” he says, laying down on the couch.

He uses the remote to shut off the lights, sending the entire room into darkness except for the fire that is now burning.

I watch the flickering flames dance on the walls for hours trying to sleep, but my mind is on overdrive, knowing I will be stuck with Zeke in a few scant hours.

Tossing and turning, Gnash whines, and I pat the spot beside me, wishing I could keep him with me tomorrow.

“Come on, boy,” I whisper. He stands and shakes out his fur, but instead of coming closer, he jumps off the bed and rushes for the balcony door.

He slips through the blowing curtains, and I quietly tiptoe closer to see what he is doing.

When I peer over, I’m surprised to see stairs instead of a balcony. “Gnash?” I whisper.

“He’s gone to pee. He’ll return.” Regan’s voice makes me jump. I turn around to find his eyes glowing black in the firelight. He sits up, flicking a lamp on before snatching his watch off the table with a groan.

“Why are you awake? It is two in the damn morning.”

“Sorry, I’m just not excited about being molested by your damn brother tomorrow. Well...I suppose it’s today!”

“He won’t rape you. He can’t or he gives up his kingdom. He’ll make sure he has permission first.”

Like that will stop him. He plans on killing me before his father can ever find out. Turning back to the weird balcony-stairs doorway, I see Gnash run off into the surrounding forest. I step out the doors when Regan grabs my arm.

“Where are you going?”

“To get Gnash.” I point, and he looks out at the maze and the forest behind it.

“He’s hunting,” Regan says, tugging me back into the room. He shoves me toward the bed, but instead of going back to the couch, he follows.

“I can take the couch.” I turn to move toward it when he grabs my arms, shoving me back to the bed.

“You need my scent on you, and I need yours. I have left you be all night, but I am not losing my kingdom because you’re too much of a prude to lie in a bed with me,” he snaps, and I hesitate, chewing my lip.

He grabs me, and a gasp leaves my lips as I fly onto the bed.

I try to clamber off, but he climbs in and wraps his arm around me, tugging me back against him.

“Regan!”

“Get over it. I won’t lose my kingdom. He’ll be able to tell by how strong our scents are if we slept together or not! Now just stay still and try not to move!”

I lay frozen, tucked against him. Every line of his body can be felt, and after ten minutes, I am sweating like a pig. I kick the blanket off and try to move his heavy arm when he growls.

“What did I fucking say?” he snarls.

“You’re making me sweat. Why are you so damn hot?”

He huffs, letting me rearrange and move away from him. I lay on my back only to be jerked back to him and crushed against his chest.