Page 40 of Lycan King's Captives
Carina’s father looks at me, his eyes dark with anger. “You have marked another while married to my daughter?” he demands.
Xandros just shrugs. “She belongs to me. As I said, she is my concubine.”
Carina’s father looks at her. “And you’re okay with this?” he demands.
“Yes, Father. You know, Lycans turn crazed without their mates.”
Carina’s father shakes his head.
Carina leans in and whispers something in Xandros’s ear. I can’t make out what she is saying, though it can’t be anything good because Xandros’s face turns red with anger.
“Fine,” he says, taking a sip from his glass. “Do what you want with her,” he says, and Carina waves me over. I don’t move, not liking the crazed look on her face.
“Now, Sienna, you’re Carina’s maid. You’ll do as she asks,” Xandros warns. When I still don’t move, his fist slams down on the table making me jump. “Now!” Hesitantly, I move closer, my heart racing.
Carina grabs my wrist and yanks me toward her. She sinks her fangs into my neck, and I cry out in pain. I can feel the blood draining out of me, and the room begins to spin.
Xandros’s jaw clenches, but he doesn’t move to help me off the floor. Instead, I clutch my neck, feeling woozy as I make my way back to the spot where I had been standing. I lean heavily against the wall, feeling dizzy, and betrayed by Xandros for what he allowed Carina to do.
When dinner is over, Xandros remains, drinking his whiskey while everyone moves to the billiard room. I try to fight back tears as I clean up the table, disgusted by what I’ve become. Xandros walks over to me, his face hard and unyielding.
“I have no choice,” he tells me. “You know that,” he whispers. I ignore him. It’s too late for his apologies.
“I am not just your sex slave; I am her blood bag now,” I whisper bitterly. He takes a step back, staring down at the ground. There’s a moment of silence between us before he speaks again, this time his voice soft.
“It is what it is,” he tells me, and then he stalks out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
As I finish cleaning, I can feel the wound on my neck healing. It does nothing for the emotional pain which remains at seeing my mate so easily give me to her to snack on.
I make my way back to my room, and as I lay on the bed, I feel the loneliness and despair wash over me. How did my life come to this?
23
The sun peeks over the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and gold as I wake. My body aches from the previous night’s events, my neck throbbing where Carina bit me. The prospect of facing another day in this castle, serving Carina, is daunting. Still, I push myself out of bed and start my day.
As Carina’s handmaiden, my duties are endless. I serve her breakfast, lay out her clothes, and tidy her chambers. While I work, I observe her with Xandros. They sit close, their hands often touching, their laughter echoing around the room. It’s a scene of domestic bliss, and it shreds my heart every time I see it.
The day wears on, and I’m summoned to the luncheon held for Carina’s parents. The air buzzes with conversation, and laughter rings out. And all I can focus on is the gnawing emptiness in my stomach, and the heaviness in my heart. When Carina’s father brings up grandchildren, my heart stutters.
“I expect to hear the pitter-patter of little feet soon after the wedding, Xandros,” he says, clapping Xandros on the shoulder.
Xandros nods, his face impassive. “In good time, let’s get through the wedding first.” His eyes flicker to mine for a brief moment before returning to his father-in-law.
My heart sinks. I can’t bear the thought of Xandros and Carina having children, though now it’s been mentioned, it seems inevitable, so instead, I remain in the shadows trying to go unnoticed when the head maid points to her tray, wanting me to fetch another from the kitchen. I wander off, taking some dirty dishes with me, thankful to escape the dining room.
However, as I’m bustling around in the kitchen, a cold shadow falls over me. I turn around to find Carina’s father towering above me. I freeze, the blood in my veins turning to ice.
He’s an intimidating figure. His eyes, a chilling ice blue, regard me coldly. He’s the embodiment of every vampire tale I’ve ever heard, and I find myself trembling in his presence as he cages me against the counter. My hand clutching the tray that holds full wine glasses, trembles, the glasses chinking loudly as they rattle.
“My daughter may have agreed for you to remain with Xandros, since Lycans are pitiful creatures who can’t survive without their mates,” he begins, his voice cold and calculating. “But mark my words, girl. You get in the way of our kingdom’s treaty, and the future you meet will be worse than the one bestowed on your parents.”
His words hit me like a punch, and I recoil in fear. His threat hangs in the air like a chilling promise, and I can’t shake off the feeling of dread that washes over me.
Xandros walks into the kitchen, Carina in tow. My gaze shifts to him in panic, and he seems to pick up on my distress, yet his face remains neutral.
“Everything alright, Father?” Carina asks, her eyes scanning the room.
“Yes, of course. I was asking the help for a fresh glass of wine,” he says, his eyes cutting to me. I quickly nod, holding out a tray of wine glasses. Carina chuckles lightly, “Exactly why we came in, too,” she chuckles. “Thank you, dear,” he tells me, snatching an extra glass off the tray and passing it to his daughter. He leaves with Carina, and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
