Page 32 of The Lycan King's Captive

“Our laws allow the king to claim any female he wishes. So I took you as my concubine.” His gaze flicked to my neck. “That mark is protection. No one can take you from me now.”

For a long moment, I was actually speechless. Concubine had one meaning, and it was unambiguous. I put a hand over the wound, as if hiding it might make it go away. “This isn’t protection. It’s property. You made me your property.”

“I had no choice.”

“There is always a choice!” My voice climbed. It was probably against the rules to yell at the king, but I didn’t care right now. The king was a liar, and he deserved every ounce of my anger. “I don’t belong to you, Cyrus, and I’m certainly not going to lie down and serve as your plaything. I just want to return to my normal life. I have a practice. People depend on me—”

“I understand that. But your patients will find other physicians. Other hospitals.”

Confusion swamped me. “I’m a veterinarian, not an MD.”

He blinked. Then his shoulders relaxed, and he almost looked relieved. “You’re not an actual doctor?”

Oh no, he did not just say that. I leaned close so there was no chance of him mishearing me. “I’m very much an actual doctor. Vet school is just as long as medical school. My patients are animals, of which there are thousands of different variations, in case you didn’t know.”

“I didn’t mean to offend you.”

It was too late for that. I swung around and headed for the door.

“Abby.” His deep voice boomed and then his hand clamped down on my arm. He spun me around. “Where are you going?”

“Home!” I tried to shake him off, but he wouldn’t budge. “You might not respect what I do, but that’s not going to stop me from living my life. It’s my life, and it belongs to me. Not you.” I tugged at his grip. “Let me go!”

“I can’t.” He pulled me close, until his silvery gaze was inches from mine. “Roman will never leave you alone. Don’t you understand that? Female werewolves simply don’t live on their own. You’re a commodity now, whether you like it or not.” He shook me a little. “Think about what that means, Abby. You say you don’t want to be a plaything. If the werewolves catch you, you’ll spend your life as precisely that, with men you don’t want between your legs.”

I glared at him, and my voice went deadly low as I said, “You mean like I did just now?”

Shock glazed his eyes. We stayed like that for a second, our harsh breaths mingling. With agonizing slowness, he released me and stepped back.

And it was like a death.

My voice shook. “You can’t keep me here. Not as your concubine. Not as your anything.”

“You’re wrong about that. You’re not going anywhere, especially when you might be carrying my child.”

I just stopped myself from touching my stomach—a protective gesture I had no business making. And he had no business talking about his hypothetical baby when he was only using it as an excuse to curtail my freedom.

I licked my lips. “I’ll take a pregnancy test. I’ll take one every day until my”—my face flamed, which made me feel ridiculous—“until my period comes. If I’m not pregnant, you have to let me go.”

His expression stayed hard, his eyes cold. “Have you been paying attention? I’m the king. I don’t have to do anything.”

“I’m a werewolf, not a lycan. I’m not one of your subjects. You have no rights over me.” Triumph flared in my chest, and I knew it gleamed in my eyes. See? I have been paying attention.

He pointed to my neck. “That bite gives me rights. It gives me every right. If I snap my fingers, you come running. Understand?”

Heat licked through me. Why, oh why, was my body such a traitor for this man? “I understand. But anything you want from me you’ll have to take by force. And that will make you no better than Roman.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Pregnant or not, you’re staying put.” He turned and stalked to the door. He opened it and stopped, and he didn’t turn as he added, “Don’t leave this room without permission.”

“You’re a tyrant,” I spat, “not a king.”

His shoulders stiffened.

He left, not quite slamming the door on his way out.

16

ABBY

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