Page 41 of Lycan King's Captives
However, Xandros remains and when I try to leave, he blocks my exit, his eyes narrowing. “What happened?” he demands.
“Like you care. Go play house with your wife,” I sneer, shoving past him.
Back in the dining room, the conversation has shifted to babies once again, and I try my best to ignore the conversation until I hear his mother speak up. “We’re actually going next week to look at baby stuff and set up a nursery.” Xandros’s mother’s eyes sparkle with excitement. I notice Xandros’s startled expression when I shift my eyes to him.
“Really, Mother?” he asks, and she giggles.
“Of course, the vampire king is not the only one looking forward to grandchildren,” she says, her eyes twinkling. I feel a lump forming in my throat, and I turn away to hide my tears as I wonder how badly that will hurt to see him father her children.
“As long as he doesn’t knock up his mate, things should be fine. You are using protection, right, Xandros?”
“Father,” Carina objects.
“Nonsense, Carina, don’t lie to me and tell me he is allowed to keep his mate, and hasn’t touched her?”
“That is none of your business,” Xandros snarls.
“You’re marrying my daughter, Xandros. The last thing we need is a scandal because you fathered a mutt to the treasonous whore,” he sneers, and I suddenly feel the gaze of everyone on me.
“She’s on birth control,” Xandros states. That’s a lie. Still, his words make me wonder if he will force me on it.
“That won’t be an issue,” Xandros states, glancing at me. However, I can tell the change in topic to her husband’s mistress has made Carina extremely uncomfortable as she glares at me.
“Make sure it isn’t,” her father states.
I turn my gaze away, focusing on my task. I’m so lost in my thoughts I almost don’t hear Carina calling me over. Then I feel her sharp fangs sinking into my neck, and reality comes crashing back. I whimper, the pain and humiliation unbearable as she feeds on me, while everyone chats like it is no big deal. Yet to me, it is. My gaze meets Xandros’s. He clenches his teeth and looks away, as if he can pretend it isn’t happening, as long as he doesn’t watch. Once she is done, she discards me like I’m garbage.
When the luncheon is over, I bolt back to my room, my heart hammering against my rib cage. My tears fall as I start to clean my room, desperately trying to occupy my mind with something other than the throbbing pain in my neck, and my shattered heart.
It’s then that I spot it. A small scrap of paper tucked under the bed. It’s the phone number Toby gave me. A lifeline. Glancing around, I wonder how I will be able to call him without a phone, when I remember the phone used to call down to the staff in the hidden bar area. Moving toward the panel, I push on it and the wall opens up to the hidden area.
It takes me two seconds to find the handset attached to the wall. I snatch it, wiping my tears and unfolding the piece of paper. Nervously, I wonder if the phone can call out of the castle or if it is only a line to the servant area. Dialing in the numbers, I glance at the door nervously when it rings, and my heart skips a beat.
“Please pick up,” I whisper to myself, my hands shaking when the ringing stops.
“Toby,” I whisper when he picks up. I nearly burst into tears when I hear his familiar voice.
“Sienna?” he breathes out in relief.
“I need to get out of here.” I choke on my sob.
“I was worried Xandros had killed you.”
“I need a way out, Toby,” I whisper.
“Shh, shh, don’t cry. Leave it with me,” he reassures. “I will speak with the seekers, and we will find a way out of the city together. I’m so glad you’re okay. You have no idea how worried I’ve been.” Tears brim in my eyes, knowing he was worried about me. At least someone missed me. But, how can I have a future with Toby when I belong to Xandros?
“Xandros has marked me,” I confess.
“Then I will mark you, and once you mark me back, it will solidify our bond and destroy his,” Toby says.
I fall silent. Could it really work? Would that be enough to protect us from Xandros? “Please tell me you haven’t marked him, Sienna?” Toby asks, worry lacing his voice.
“No, I haven’t, and I don’t think he would allow that,” I reply.
“Thank the goddess. It’s nearly impossible to break a full bond,” Toby sighs in relief. His words offer me a glimmer of hope in this sea of despair.
We plot my escape, Toby’s reassuring voice promising help from within the castle. As I hang up, a knock echoes through the room.
