Page 43 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings (Unwanted #1)

To punish them, she would curse her child to be with them? It makes no sense. I have so many questions racing through my mind, so many things I can’t fathom or understand.

“What about Sloth?”

Regan sighs. “We are all Sloth. We all just stood back and watched her die, we let my father do the dirty work, but we are just as guilty. He may have killed her, but we let him.”

“Why did your father want her dead, though, and to kill her so brutally?”

“She was a witch, back then that is how witches were killed. Only it was her death that brought on the curse. Her dying sealed it,” Regan explains.

“If you knew she cursed you, why kill her?” I ask.

“We didn’t know until she burned, and we burned along with her.

The markings appeared first. They glowed brightly—showing our shame.

We tried to cover them, and a few days later, the curse was revealed on the walls of her cell.

All curses need some sort of sacrifice to be made, or some gift or offering. ”

“She sacrificed herself. She made a fail-safe in case she died,” I whisper.

Regan nods. “Yes, and a good one too. Not only did she curse us, but she cloaked her daughter. We can’t identify her , and she won’t be able to identify us.”

“What do you mean?”

“We aren’t sure. My father burned the cells in a rage and erased the curse from the walls before we could finish deciphering them,” he explains, and my eyebrows raise.

“I don’t get how I fit into any of this. Why would your father force your hand just because he is dying. He’d have to know it wouldn’t work,” I mutter.

“That is what we are trying to find out too. He has another agenda. We just aren’t sure what it is yet.”

So in all this, I am just a pawn to King Theron. It makes no sense. Why would he go to such extremes and pit them against each other if he wants them to get along and rule together?

Regan falls quiet like he is thinking the same thing when what Shelley told me takes up the forefront of my mind.

If I don’t choose between his sons and none prove worthy, he’s handing the throne to his half brother Malachi.

My thoughts are working overtime as I try to mesh what Shelley told me and what Regan believes to form some logical answer.

If I chose one, what would he gain? Because Regan believes I have no choice, that it was never mine.

He thinks his father is trying to force them together to rule.

But he would have to know he’s setting his sons up for failure.

.. or maybe that’s the point. If they can’t work together, none of them get the throne, but I doubt Malachi will stand against the rightful heirs.

So King Theron can’t give the throne away unless all his sons are dead.

It makes no sense why he would risk his sons, there has to be more, something he is hiding if what Regan claims is true.

Because from what I do know is that no woman survives them.

So he knew they would kill me. That makes my mood plummet further.

He has not only set his sons up for failure, but he signed my death sentence as well.

“The curse on you, you share it with your brothers, right?” Regan stops pacing and looks at me.

“Yes, though each of us were cursed for different reasons, we all played our part in Litha’s death,” Regan tells me.

“What do you mean?” I teeter forward on the edge of the bed as he sighs deeply, avoiding my gaze.

“Zeke—” A knock sounds on the door, and we both freeze staring at it as it swings open.

Zeke walks in with a slow grin, and Regan has pure venom in his eyes. “How did you—”

Zeke holds up a key and Regan growls, shaking his head.

“You should be more careful where you leave your keys brother, anyone could have come in,” he states with a taunting smile. His eyes move to me, and I clutch what’s left of my top closed.

“I see you’ve been having fun with your little toy, Regan. I hope you’re not growing attached to her. You know she won’t live, and I don’t want to be the reason your heart gets broken. Father is up to something, and I will play no part in it. If you were smart, neither would you.”

“Then leave, Zeke!” Regan snarls.

“Me? I think not, brother. Do you truly believe I don’t know you and Lyon are working against me? You always have, and I am done with this facade we all wear. Now hand her over.”

“Zeke!” Regan growls.

“Hand her over, Regan.” Zeke speaks slowly, and I can hear the threat behind his words.

“You kill her and Father will strip you of your throne!”

“So you keep reminding me. I have no intention of killing her. You know I don’t like getting my hands dirty, but accidents happen. Father knows this.”

“He set forth the rules,” Regan snaps.

“I am well aware of the rules, Regan. But one thing I have learned is that rules are sometimes supposed to be broken. Sometimes the consequences are worth it, don’t you think?

” Zeke speaks in riddles, which I don’t understand, but by the look on Regan’s face, I see thathe knows exactly what Zeke speaks of.

“So worried about your precious throne, Regan, but you are more than the seat in which you sit. We have bigger issues, and this is merely Father’s way of distracting us from what he is truly hiding!”

“And what is that?” Regan asks, folding his arms across his broad chest looking at Zeke.

Zeke laughs.

“I have no fucking clue, but I will find out—and I won’t be forced to marry a human to do so!”

“Good luck with that. I would never choose you!” I sneer. Zeke clicks his tongue and shakes his head.

“Oh dear. She really believes she has a choice. Tell me brother, did you spill all our secrets? Does she know to take one of us, she must accept us all?”

“I will never accept you!” I glare at him.

“And right there lies the problem. I don’t know what game my father is playing, but he should know better than to pit us against each other. It is almost like he is trying to kill us!” Zeke growls. He purses his lips, a line creasing between his eyes.

“Is that why you’re trying to kill him?” Regan asks, and Zeke tilts his head to the side.

“Why would you think that?”

“Funny how you lied to us about when you arrived, and our father started getting sick the moment you showed up here!” Regan accuses.

“What reason would I have to kill the old fool? I don’t want his throne, and I couldn’t care less for the people here! I was here because I received word from one of the guards about Father being sick. I thought it was you!” Zeke yells, pointing an accusing finger at Regan.

“Why would I go after our father?”

“His throne. You were angry when he refused to acknowledge you as his heir!” Regan scoffs.

“I’m the firstborn, and the throne is rightly mine!” Regan yells. “But that doesn’t mean I would fucking try to kill him.”

“Well, he certainly doesn’t care if we kill each other...” Zeke’s words trail off, and his eyes grow distant in thought. “Maybe that is his intention,” Zeke mutters to himself.

Regan scoffs. “Don’t think too hard, Zeke. You’ll let your paranoia get the best of you, you know how envious you get when you think one of us is more favored than you.”

“Well, do you have another guess, brother. He knows we are a package deal, so what could he possibly gain by threatening our thrones.” Zekes eyes move to me accusingly. “Her...It’s her.” Zeke wags his finger at me. “It’s a test!”

“Testing what? How much we hate each other?” Regan laughs.

“No...no...think, Regan. Why would he test us with her? Think about it. She’s human, and he knows we’d kill her.”

“Father already said he can’t choose between us,” Lyon says from the doorway, startling all of us.

“You seriously believe he is allowing her to choose?” Zeke snaps back, but Lyon only shrugs.

“I don’t know, but why would he make us part of the trials and force our hands?” Lyon questions, and Zeke tosses his arms up in the air.

“Do you not listen? I just said the same damn thing, only I worded it differently,” Zeke snaps at him, and Lyon rolls his eyes.

“He said he wants to see who has humanity left. We both know Regan is the rightful heir to the throne because he’s the oldest, but with this curse hanging over our damn heads, we all need to be in one place.

If something happens to one of us, it affects all of usand, therefore, affects the ruling King. ”

“Unless we find a way to break the blood tie,” Regan offers.

They both nod. “Maybe he did?” Zeke mumbles. “What if he did find a way to break the blood tie?”

“You think he found a witch?” Lyon moves through the room and slumps into an armchair by the fireplace.

“But if he did, why all this?” I ask. They seem to think for a second, but it’s Regan who answers.

“Because he has to choose,” he whispers, and they all look at me. I stare at them, wondering what on earth is going on.

“And that’s where she comes in.” Lyon exhales, folding his arms across his chest, and presses his lips in a line.

I watch each of them, whatever Regan just pointed out seems to make Zeke angrier, but Regan looks worried. Lyon stares at Regan with an indecipherable expression on his face.

“Still think he isn’t trying to kill us?” Zeke’s tone softens with exhaustion, and for just a moment, he almost looks human.

“No, this is bullshit!” Lyon snaps. “There is no guarantee.” Lyon slams back through the bedroom door, and Zeke’s face hardens once again.

“Ah, what is going on?” I ask.

“Nothing. We have a date, now get up!” All of Zeke’s hatred and frustration seems to coat his words, and a chill sweeps over me.

“Zeke?” Regan snarls, but Zeke shakes his head and holds up one hand.

“No, Regan. You have to know whose side you’re on here. Either way, if he found a witch to break the curse, that means she picks who lives. You have a fucking choice to make, Regan. So, what’s it going to be? Your brothers or some human you barely fucking know?” Zeke stalks over to me.

“What?” I squeak, stepping back. Gnash growls at Zeke, and my eyes dart to the wolf.