Page 9 of Lycan King's Captives
Taking in my surroundings, knowing I won’t be leaving my room until she shifts. It is evident the groundskeeper did the lawns yesterday because the grounds are well-maintained despite the thin blanket of snow, which gives the appearance the lawns are decorated with glistening diamonds.
Turning, the entrance is grand, with two towering stone pillars and an ornate wooden door. Servants glance between each other and step aside as I move toward the open doors. I nearly turn around and walk out when I spot Carina sauntering down the grand staircase toward me. Fuck! She is back already. My impression was that she wouldn’t be back until tomorrow. No doubt my mother called her to let her know I hadn’t been home.
“Xandros, my love.” she beams happily, her paleness showing she is in need of blood. She smiles and rushes down the steps. Her smile slips off her face, and she halts in her tracks. Her blood-red eyes peer at the woman in my arms.
“And who is that?” she questions.
“My mate,” I answer with a growl, not liking the way she is eyeing her.
Carina tilts her head, eyes trained on my little mate. I cautiously watch my fiancé for a second, gauging her reaction. Her long, dark hair hangs down to her waist, and her blood-red eyes seemed to pierce through her prey. I clutch Sienna closer as if to shield her. Lifting my gaze back to Carina, she clicks her tongue, stepping down a step. Carina always had an air of confidence and power, and her movements are graceful and elegant. But right now, she is furious. I can tell by the way she grasps the handrail, her knuckles white, and her sharp nails scratching into it.
“Excuse me?” she scoffs, placing a hand on her hip. Her tone is mocking, as if she doesn’t believe what she’s just heard. When I don’t repeat myself, she tilts her head to the side and fixes her eyes on me. A challenging glint makes them sparkle as she slowly walks down the stairs toward me.
“I’ll give you a chance to fix that statement, Xandros. We are due to marry next month, and you suddenly decide to bring home a stray?” she snaps at me. I bite back the urge to growl at her tone. Her shock and anger, I expected, but I won’t be challenged, not in my kingdom.
“Who is she?” Carina demands, and I press my lips together.
“My mate, it doesn’t matter who she is. You know the importance of mates,” I tell her, peering down at mine knocked out in my arms, her face relaxed in her sleep.
“I know the importance of this marriage. Treaties depend on us. Kingdoms! And you suddenly claim another!” she yells at me. Clenching my teeth, I peer up at Carina.
“I understand how significant this union is,” I reply firmly, “but I can’t go through with it. Not now that I have my mate!” Hearing rushing footsteps, I curse under my breath. My mother’s voice can be heard as her heels click on the marble floor.
“What in the world is going on out here?” she demands, and I take a deep breath and stand tall, preparing to face her wrath. She enters the room, and her expression says it all—anger which quickly changes to shock when she realizes I have another woman in my arms. Her lips part slightly as she looks at me, and her eyes move from my mate to me, then Carina, who now stands on the second step.
“What is the meaning of this?” my mother demands.
“Ask your son. He’s the one claiming to have found his mate!” Carina sneers, casting a glare at me. She then bunches up her white floor-length gown at the hip before stalking off back up the steps. I feel somewhat guilty, but I’m not about to throw my mate away for a sham of a wedding.
“Is this true?” my mother asks, turning her attention back to me. Her eyes dart down at my mate in my arms. My mother’s expression is one of disbelief. Her eyebrows furrow, and her lips purse as she stares at me. She begins to speak, then stops, her shoulders slumping as if in defeat. “You know what this means, right?” she questions.
I stare at my mother, confused. She has dark black hair curled and pulled into an elegant bun as the crown rests on her head slightly crooked. Her eyes, a deep brown, hold more wisdom than I could ever comprehend.
My mother wipes her hands on her dress, flattening it down as if she spotted a wrinkle. It was something she always did when nervous. She clasps her hands together, peering toward the stairs where Carina ran off. She wears a deep burgundy dress— her favorite color. Her presence fills the space in a way that is both comforting and intimidating.
“Carina has every right to challenge her. Your marriage has already been announced to the kingdoms. Either Carina chooses to step down, or you’re—” My mother’s eyes drop to Sienna in my arms.
“My mate’s name is Sienna,” I say to her, and she nods once before lifting her chin.
“Well, your mate will have to challenge her for her place at your side or become your concubine.”
I growl at her words. “That law is outdated,” I snarl. “I will not marry another when I have my mate right here!” My mother flinches at my anger, then her eyes soften.
“I know, I know the importance of mates; therefore, we must keep up with traditions. It would be the same if Carina found her mate. You would have to challenge him for her hand. You need to get Carina to agree, or we run the risk of starting a war between kingdoms. The marriage is already complete, Xandros. Carina carries our name already.”
“Excuse me?” My mother looks away from me.
“Your father wanted to announce his retirement at the wedding. Hand the kingdom down. We sent the marriage paperwork off already, and it was returned today,” she speaks softly.
“That wasn’t to be done until next week!”
“I’m sorry, son. We didn’t expect you to find your mate. The paperwork is done. The only thing left is the ceremony to make it official in the kingdom.”
“Are you telling me I am already fucking married?”
“It’s why you need Carina to agree so it can be annulled, or your mate is going to have to fight for your hand.” I take a step back, horrified.
“You can’t seriously expect me to be with another woman and keep my mate on the side. What woman would accept that?” I snarl.
