Page 18 of Lycan King's Captives
Xandros orders, “Two of my usuals, Mara.” The waitress hurries away, and Xandros turns to me, his eyes filled with amusement. “Did you really think I would deny who you are like I’m embarrassed by you?” he asks, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
“Are you?” I question, my voice wavering. “You seem to give me a lot of rules, like you’re worried I’ll embarrass you.”
“The rules are for your safety,” he replies, his voice serious. “Speaking of rules, I have some more for you.”
He begins listing more rules designed to protect me from Carina, who he fears may try to harm me. I am to remain in my room unless he says otherwise, and I am not to speak to, or react to, Carina if we cross paths. I glance out the window.
It’s then that I spot Toby, my former boss, watching me from across the street. My breath catches, and I quickly look away, feeling even more trapped than before.
Thankfully, Mara returns with our food, giving me a reason not to sit there awkwardly, trying to avoid Xandros’s observant gaze. As she sets the plate in front of me, I thank her quickly before staring down at the plate. I’m amazed at the presentation. The dish is beautifully arranged with vegetables, some I can’t even name, having never seen them before. It also has succulent meat and a delicate sauce I’ve never tasted before. It’s exquisite, but my anxiety prevents me from fully enjoying it.
As we eat, Xandros questions me. “Tell me about yourself. I know nothing about you.”
I nearly choke on my mouthful of food. I know if he discovers who my parents are, he will kill me. So instead, I lie. “Ah, I’m nobody. I lived with my uncle and worked at a pub,” I answer vaguely. Xandros watches me intently, and I know he senses my deception.
“If you weren’t one of Mal’s working girls, does that mean that other man… what’s his name?” he asks.
“Toby,” I reply, feeling a cold shiver down my spine.
“Is he who you worked for?” Xandros growls, and I nod, glancing out the window again. Toby is gone.
“What else should I know about you?” he asks, his eyes boring into me. I shrug, trying to appear nonchalant. “There’s nothing else to know,” I lie.
“Now that is a lie,” he says quietly, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. “You know I can hear it when you lie, right? Your heart flutters oddly. I can also feel it through the bond, your deception. The bond isn’t in full swing for you. However, I’ve felt it since the moment I laid eyes on you. You might want to keep that in mind next time you try to lie to me.”
I stare down at my plate, feeling cornered. He continues. “It’s fine. I’ll let it slide this once. You will tell me eventually. If not, I have other ways of finding out.”
My stomach churns, and I try to focus on finishing my meal. “Now hurry up and eat,” he says, his tone lighter. “I want to take you shopping.”
With each step we take together, the line between captivity and desire grows more and more blurred. Just like a switch is flicked, he changes from cruel and threatening to sweet and pleasant. Being around Xandros is like dealing with someone who has multiple personalities. It sets me on edge, waiting for the next one to come forward.
After the meal, he takes me shopping, guiding me through a maze of luxurious boutiques filled with silk and velvet. Despite my discomfort, he insists on buying me clothes, even though the price tags make me feel even more out of place. I’ve only shopped at thrift stores. The thought of spending so much on a single pair of jeans, when it could pay the electric bill for six months, is incomprehensible to me.
He drags me from store to store, the price tags making me feel like I’m losing touch with the world I once knew. Each store we visit is more luxurious than the last; it makes me feel worse because I know I look out of place beside him.
“Try this on,” Xandros demands, holding up a delicate lace dress that costs more than my entire wardrobe combined. I hesitantly take it from him, wishing we could just go back to my cage, at least locked in the room, people don’t gawk and stare. In the dressing room, I slip into the dress, surprised at how well it fits, and how soft it feels against my skin, despite the lace. I step out to show Xandros, and his eyes widen in appreciation.
“You look stunning,” he murmurs, reaching out to brush his fingers against the fabric. His touch sends a shiver down my spine. I can feel the darkness within him as his eyes flicker – the seductive pull I’m powerless to resist.
As we continue, Xandros selects more for me to try on. It makes me feel as if he is dressing up a doll for his own amusement. As we float through the stores, I notice Xandros is also buying clothes for himself – dark, expensive suits that make him look even more powerful and dangerous, not that he needs the help. Regardless, it makes me feel better knowing he didn’t just bring me to buy clothes.
As we leave the store, I finally think we are returning home when he drags me into another. I fight the urge to groan. My feet hurt, I’m tired, and sick of playing dress up. He selects a stunning gown for me, the deep red fabric shimmering in the dim light. He insists I try it on, and when I emerge from the dressing room, his eyes darken with desire.
“You look like a queen,” he whispers, leaning in to kiss my neck. I shudder at his touch, my body betraying my fear as my pulse races beneath his lips. I know I should be repulsed by him, by his darkness and his control over me, but I can’t deny the strange allure he holds.
As we exit the store, I catch sight of Toby again, his eyes filled with concern as he watches me from a distance. I drop my gaze quickly. Before I can react, Xandros’s hand pulls me toward the car.
As we walk, relief fills me when I notice Toby has disappeared.
However, that relief is short-lived when Toby suddenly appears beside me, grabbing my arm. “I thought it was you,” he says, pulling me into a hug. My entire body tenses and I freeze when Xandros growls behind me. He’s so close that I can feel the heat of Xandros’s body and the sharp sting of his claws as they slice into my arm.
“When are you returning to the pub?” Toby asks, his voice desperate. Xandros answers for me, his voice cold and dismissive. “She’s not. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
Toby steps in front of me, blocking my path. “I wasn’t asking you,” he challenges the king. Toby obviously doesn’t understand the danger he’s in. I quickly intervene, trying to defuse the situation. “The king is right, Toby. I have to go.”
I give him a pleading look, hoping he’ll understand just how precarious our situation is. He seems to catch on, his eyes flicking between Xandros and me. “I guess I’ll see you around,” he says, pulling me into a quick hug. As he does, I feel him slip something into the side of my pants – a small piece of paper. “You know where I am if you need me,” he whispers into my ear, just loud enough for Xandros to hear.
“She won’t,” Xandros snarls, his grip on my arm tightening. I watch as Toby reluctantly releases me and creeps away, my heart aching at the thought of leaving him behind.
