Page 29 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
“Free them, I accept.I’ll marry one of your sons!”I tell him.
“You accept?”the king questions.
“She said she did, now let the underage girls go, Father!”King Regan orders.He pays his son no mind, and King Regan stomps across the stage, stopping at the steps.
“Free them!”
“No!Zirah doesn’t get to keep changing her mind.She chose this.”King Theron states, his eyes on me.
Lyon shakes his head and steps forward.“No, father, these are not women, they are children.I am not that kind of fucking monster.Regan is right, she agreed.So let them go.”King Theron looks at Lyon and then Zeke.Zeke shrugs, uncaring, and I grit my teeth, turning my gaze to him.
“They’ll all die anyway, so what does it matter?”Zeke questions, and King Theron smiles.
King Lyon and Regan shoot an angry look at Zeke.“Lead them to the maze.Zirah, come collect your payment and freedom.”
“No!I agreed to marry one of your despicable sons.Now let them go!”I yell at the king.
“You were given a time limit.”
“Fuck your time limit!”I cry, and a collective gasp echoes around the town square.Whispers follow, words like disrespect and the gallows turn my stomach upside down.King Theron chuckles, waving them off while his eyes flash dangerously.
“This is precisely why you would make an excellent queen.You bow to no one, but you will bow to me!My word is final.Your opinion is no longer worthy, but it seems I am at a tie with my sons.Zeke doesn’t care about these women, and neither did you five minutes ago,” King Theron says.
My eyes go to Zeke, and I clench my jaw, knowing all he had to do was agree with his brothers to let the women go, to fucking accept me in their place.The king watches me with a wicked grin, and I don’t like the game he is playing.He’s baiting me.
I tap my leg, calling Hunter to follow, and march toward the stairs.Grabbing the girl on the steps by her arm, I yank her back and climb the stairs, marching across the stage toward Zeke.He smiles deviously, and I notice King Regan and King Lyon watching me and their brother.
I look at King Theron.“Zeke agrees with Regan and Lyon,” I tell the king, and Zeke scoffs.
“Hunter!”I call, and Zeke unfolds his arms.“Agree, and I’ll give him back,”
“Oh, you’ll give him back!”Zeke threatens.
“Good luck taking him from me, Zeke!”I retort.
The crowd erupts in murmurs at my casual reference to their names.
King Theron laughs.“Your answer, Zeke, do you accept Zirah as your possible queen?”Zeke growls menacingly.
“Take the deal, Zeke,” I tell him, and he grabs my throat.Time seems to stop, and I notice King Regan, out of the corner of my eye, take a step forward.
Zeke leans down.“You dare threaten me, love?”Zeke growls, his lips brushing mine.
“I am not threatening you.I am ordering you to accept!”I sneer at him, and his hand grows tighter, cutting off my air.Hunter growls, but my fist clenches his fur, and he sits back down.
Zeke’s eyes dart to his growling wolf.He tugs me closer, his arm snaking around my waist, as he pulls me flush against him.His hand then slides up my back and grips the nape of my neck while his fingers tangle in my hair.
“Order me again, love, and the only place you’ll find yourself is in a body bag.”
I glare at him, and Hunter growls menacingly at my feet and goes to move, but I yank him back.
“Ask me nicely?”Zeke whispers, his lips brushing mine.I grit my teeth, knowing all eyes are watching to see what I will do.Zeke growls when I say nothing, and his lips crash against mine hard, his hand in my hair forcing me closer.He bites my lip hard enough that blood fills my mouth.
“I want my wolf back,” he snarls against my lips.Hunter snarls viciously at his owner, and I can feel the vibration against my leg, but I grip the scruff of his neck tighter to keep him in place beside me.
“If he bites me, I will kill them all while you watch.Starting with little Leila.”Zeke looks past my shoulder, and I know by his taunting gaze he is looking at her.
“She is why you decided.She is what made your mind up to sacrifice yourself,” Zeke laughs.“Your humanity is sickening, but unfortunately, it’s what my father likes about you.That and your inability to fear death, even when you’re in its clutches.”Zeke cranes my head back by my hair.
