Page 25 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
“I can’t.I have a meeting with King Slavic in two days.I need to prepare.”Lyon shrugs.
“The Bloodtaric Kingdom?”Zeke asks curiously.
“Yeah, trade issues, but I also need to speak to him about something else.”
“Oh for the love of God, you’re not still chasing down that damn oracle!Give up on that already.The curse can’t be broken, and even if it could be, there are no female lycans left and haven’t been in twenty years!When are you going to give up on finding the old witch?She’s dead!”
“She’s not!”I answer, she has to still be out there.
“You’re chasing a ghost, brother,” Lyon adds, making me glare at him.
“Mom said—”
“Mom is dead.Your hunt for that woman got her killed, and it will get you killed, too.Fucking give up on it already,” Zeke growls.I glare at him when Lyon suddenly gets up, drawing our attention to him.
“Well, I am going to see the conditions of this stupid arranged marriage.You can wait here and fight over the oracle or come with me, but either way, I have a throne to take.”Lyon laughs, walking out the door.As we watch him go, my eyes move to Zeke before we both jump up to follow him.As I shut the door, Gnash tries to follow, but I point at him, telling him to stay.Zeke has already lost his wolf.I’m not losing mine to her too.
Stepping out and into the corridor, we pass the human’s room to see her door open and the room empty.Zeke walks in to quickly see if Hunter remains, coming back out angry when he realizes he went with her.Leaving our wing, we make our way to the dining hall, only to find her and Shelley on the main floor.I just can’t seem to escape this woman.
We follow the human to the dining hall.My eyes trail over her.The clothes she is wearing reek of Shelley’s scent.I hate it.I can’t stand who Shelley became after my mother was killed.She blames me.They all do.Just none of them are willing to say it to my face except Zeke.
For some reason, smelling Shelley’s scent all over the human repulses me.Something about the girl intrigues me, something I can’t explain.Something has been nagging me from the moment I laid eyes on her.
Hunter walks close to her, and Zeke eyes his wolf and glares.Lyon is too busy checking out her plump ass to notice anything else, but I don’t blame him.Her skirt hugs her waist, showing off an hourglass figure, and I must admit, she is quite attractive.
I want to run my hands over her body to map out her curves, wrap her long, sun-kissed hair around my fist and teach her the manners she so desperately needs.My eyes roam over her indulgently.The clothes she’s borrowed are a little too tight, but that isn’t surprising.Shelley is like an ironing board, no curves, pencil straight just like her boring personality.
As we enter the dining hall, the human turns and meets my hard stare, but she doesn’t look away nervously the way the rest of them do.She doesn’t appear to fear me.Maybe that’s what intrigues me the most.Only my siblings and father ever meet my gaze.It’s jarring.
My father looks up from his newspaper, his glasses slidingdown the bridge of his nose as he does.His legs are crossed as he leans back, laying his paper down on the table.
It is a little too early for dinner, but we’re long past lunchtime.Still, an entire feast covers the long table.No doubt my father asked the chefs to cook everything they can think of to appease our intruder.He has been pushing us to take mates for the past decade without success.
“Come, come join me, Zirah.Boys.”He motions to the chairs but pulls out the one beside him and pats the seat, nodding toward Zirah.She watches him for a second, looking unsure, before glancing at Shelley, who nods and urges her forward.Zirah hesitantly takes a step forward, as if she thinks it is a trick.I don’t blame her.No commoner eats in the dining hall, and especially not in our presence.Let alone sit near the king!
Zirah takes a seat, and my father nearly shoves her into the table as he tucks her chair in, and I roll my eyes at his so-called chivalry.“Dig in.You must be starving,” he urges.
Zirah waits for him to take his seat before calling Hunter to her.My father looks at him.He never allows our wolves at the table, but he says nothing when she calls him to sit beside her.
Zirah glances around at us, and I can tell she feels out of place, and she certainly looks it.Her eyes come back to mine as I sit across from her and motion for the servant to bring me a drink.If I have to endure this shitshow, I may as well get comfortable.
“Can we get this over with over, old man?I have places to be and people to torture back home,” Zeke states as the servant places a glass in front of me.
“You won’t be going home anytime soon, so get comfortable, Zeke.”Father shoots him a pointed look.
“I have meetings with the Bloodtaric’s vampire king in two days, Father,” I remind him.
“You can go to the meeting from here.I am closer to the Bloodtaric Kingdom, anyhow.I will hear no excuses; you can speak with King Slavic from here.No one leaves.Until you can be trusted to go home with her, you will all remain under my watch.”
“Excuse me?”Zeke asks, outraged.
“If you will shut up and let me explain, Zeke, it would be muchappreciated,” Father growls at him in warning.Zeke presses his lips in a line.
“Your wolves chose her for you.Now it is up to her who she chooses.”Zirah makes a face, and her eyes move to each of us.
“I am not marrying one of your sons.I don’t care what the so-called prize is.I’d rather die,” Zirah sneers, glaring at us.
“I am offering you a chance to be Queen of the High Kingdom, dear.Most would die for this opportunity,”
