Page 87 of Lycan King's Captives
“With your father,” she answers.
“Send for him,” I tell her.
The weight of the situation hangs heavily upon me as I lead Sienna away, my mind racing with the knowledge that the stakes have been raised. I can’t afford to lose control, not now.
43
As Xandros leads me to my room, a heaviness settles in the pit of my stomach. His grip on my arm is firm, and there’s an underlying tension in his touch. As we approach my room, Javier is waiting already, having beat us here. We enter the room, and Xandros releases me, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment before he speaks.
“I’ll be back soon,” he says, his voice filled with a mix of exhaustion and concern.
“Javier will stay here to watch over you.”
I nod, my eyes darting to Javier, who stands waiting for a command. The entire time, my mind races with questions, before I can voice them, Xandros is gone, leaving me alone with Javier. I turn to him, my eyes pleading for answers.
“No, don’t look at me like that, Sienna. Any questions need to wait for Xandros,” he states, moving toward the armchair. He grabs the remote, flicks on the TV, and makes himself at home like he always does. I follow and sit across from him in the other chair. “What did Vin mean about Carina saving me?” I ask, my voice trembling.
Javier sighs, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness; it’s rare that Javier denies me the answers I ask, and this time is no different as he gives in, knowing I will keep pestering him until I have the answers I need. “Carina refused to hand you over when she turned your mother and father in,” he explains. “Instead, she gave you to your uncle, pleading with Adina to listen. Carina believed you were just a baby and shouldn’t be blamed for your parents’ mistakes.”
Confusion sets in, and I struggle to comprehend Carina’s actions. Why would she go to such extremes to save me? What did I mean to her?
“When she returned them to the castle, she had her guards take you back to your uncle. Your mother and father, when they fled, took you thinking King Vin would protect them from their crimes.”
“Why would they think that?” Javier shrugs. “No idea, but when they were returned for punishment, Carina pleaded with Adina to leave you out of it. She copped quite the scolding from her mother and her father for having you sent to your uncle. She disobeyed a direct order.”
Why would she risk punishment for her handmaiden’s child?
Before I can delve deeper into my thoughts, Javier turns the volume up on the TV, providing a distraction. I take the opportunity to retreat to the walk-in closet to retrieve my phone before escaping into the bathroom, taking it with me. I dial Toby’s number, my heart pounding with anticipation.
Toby answers after just one ring. His voice filled with relief. “I was so worried when I didn’t hear from you,” he says.
“I can’t speak long, I am just calling to say we need to push things along. I need to get out, Toby. The city is going to war, and I’m afraid I’ll be caught in the middle of it,” I tell him, desperation seeping into my voice. I know no matter what, Xandros is not getting out of this marriage, and I have no intention of watching him be with another woman. Or get caught in the crossfire if he refuses the marriage.
“Why?”
“King Vin is pushing for the wedding to be next week, I have a feeling something will happen before then. I think he is planning something,” I tell him.
“Fine. We’ll figure it out together, I will speak with Tyra and see if we can find a way out tomorrow for you. We’ll have to hide out until the seekers can get us out,” he assures me.
A knock at the door interrupts our conversation. I quickly end the call, promising to speak again soon. Opening the door, I find Javier standing on the other side. Relief washes over me, knowing it wasn’t Xandros.
“I need to duck down to check the cameras for Xandros. I’ll be back. Don’t answer the door unless it’s me or Xandros. Not even for Queen Adina or King Rehan,” Javier instructs me.
I furrow my brow in confusion. “Why not them?”
“Xandros is paranoid. Just do as I say,” Javier says, his tone grave. “And stay off that phone. Xandros catches you speaking with Toby he’ll have both our heads,” he warns, and I nod. He turns to leave then stops.
“Sienna.” I peer up at him. “Whatever you’re planning with Toby, don’t. You run, and Xandros will hunt you down. That won’t end well for your friend or you,” he warns me.
“Yet you haven’t told him,” I tell him, and his brows furrow. “Because you’re my friend, Xandros is too. He’s my boss. I’m charged with keeping you safe, though sometimes I wonder who I am trying to keep you safe from…”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know. I know he won’t kill you; I know I can’t do much, though I am not blind to your suffering. I’m not blind to his, either. You think he doesn’t want you, I promise he is doing everything he can to be with you.”
I swallow.
“I know you hate him, royal politics isn’t just some argument between rivals. Lives depend on it, more than just yours and his. His kingdom, everything his family has built here, he’s risking it all for you. It may not seem like it, but he is.”
