Page 86 of Lycan King's Captives
“You’re back early?” I tell him, not looking forward to this argument, which is no doubt coming.
“A little birdy saw you in the city. Without my daughter, you must understand how bad that looks for my son-in-law to be running around with another woman on his arm?”
“What I do is none of your business. Carina is okay with it,” I tell him, holding my hand out for Sienna to take. She does, hesitantly, peering up at Vin as she slides out of the car. The moment she does, Vin blocks her path and I sidestep getting between them.
“What do you want, Vin?” I growl in warning before my jaw clenches.
Vin’s smirk widens, his gaze flickering between Sienna and me. “Ah, Xandros, you know what I want. I was just intending to have a little chat with your precious concubine.”
My blood boils at his words. He’s intentionally provoking me, trying to undermine my authority. Sienna remains silent, her eyes focused on the ground.
“What’s the meaning of this, Vin?” I demand, my voice sharp and commanding.
Vin’s gaze narrows as he locks eyes with me. “I would like to ensure Sienna isn’t challenging for your hand. You’ve spent the entire day together and night.” I open my mouth to demand to know how he knows that, but he keeps speaking.
“I have eyes everywhere, you know this. The wedding is to go ahead next week, Xandros. You will marry Carina, or else?—”
I interrupt him, my voice dripping with anger. “Or else what? What kind of leverage do you think you have over me?”
Vin leans in, his voice low and menacing. “I have so much dirt on your family, Xandros. Don’t forget that. I will have your kingdom dismantled in the blink of an eye. Your people will become slaves to my kingdom.”
My patience wears thin, and I grab Vin by the collar, yanking him closer to me.
“You think you can manipulate me? Threaten me?”
He smirks again, unfazed. “Is that what you want to be known for, Xandros? The king who let his people suffer?” he asks before he peers at Sienna behind me.
“And are you planning to outdo your parents’ reputation? It’s bad enough the Lycan population hates you. You don’t want to be responsible for the deaths of your own people, do you?”
“They’re not her people anymore; she is no longer human,” I state.
The threat hangs in the air, igniting a fire within me. I release my grip on Vin, taking a step back. His words hit a nerve, reminding me of the precarious position I am in.
“And what about your family, Vin?” I retort, my voice dripping with venom. “How would they fare if the council were to find out about your own dirty secrets? Let’s not forget the skeletons lurking in your closet.”
Vin’s eyes widen for a split second before his crooked smile returns. “Ah, you’re quite the cunning one, Xandros. Rest assured, I have my ways of keeping the council at bay. They won’t dare touch me. But you… I wonder what the council would have to say if they learned your mother killed one of their own?”
A growl escapes me, and Sienna grabs my arm, halting me. I clench my fists, fighting the urge to lash out. This game of power and manipulation has gone on long enough.
“Don’t forget the only reason your little mate is alive, Xandros, is because of my daughter,” Vin says, his voice dripping with contempt. “Your mother wanted her dead, along with her parents. You will marry Carina, or I will let the world know exactly what sort of traitor you have for a mate. I wonder if Elder Alaric would be pleased to know whose daughter she is? Or what truly happened to his best friend?”
“I’m sure he’d be interested to learn you helped cover that up.”
My fury reaches its peak, and without thinking, I grab Vin by the throat, slamming him onto the roof of his limo, the bang of his body hitting the metal is loud, the thud echoing around me as his body crushes the roof inward. Moments later, my mother’s voice breaks through the tension as she steps out of the castle.
“What’s going on?” she asks, her eyes scanning the scene before her.
I glare down at Vin, who wears a triumphant grin on his face. Just then, Carina rushes out, her voice filled with concern.
“Dad?” her voice rings out loudly, and I turn my attention to her.
“Xandros, what do you think you’re doing? Let my father go!” she snaps at me.
With a growl, I shove Vin off, his body tumbling to the ground. Carina rushes to his side, and I turn toward my mother and Sienna. Grabbing Sienna’s arm, I pull her toward the castle where my mother is waiting. Sienna’s eyes remain fixed on Vin, a mix of fear and betrayal in her gaze.
“What happened?” my mother asks, grabbing my arm, her voice filled with urgency.
“Later,” I reply, my tone cold and detached. “Let me get my mate back to her room. Where is Javier?”
