Page 93 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
Zeke follows me silently, and his presence behind me makes me uneasy.I can feel his threatening aura pressing down on me.We step inside through a back entrance of the castle that I’ve never seen before.The walls are adorned with intricately woven tapestries and paintings.The polished marble floors are cold beneath my feet, and this part of the castle is deserted.
Chandeliers glow brightly, and the walls are lit with sconces.The furniture is made of the finest woods and covered in luxuriousfabrics, creating a calming atmosphere.The windows are tall and let in the moonlight while overlooking the lush garden and grounds of the castle.Yet despite its beauty, it’s nearly impossible to forget the man behind me, and as I navigate my way, his aura only grows more menacing.
“Next left!”Zeke says coldly, and I turn in that direction, finally finding the stairs.This castle is as complicated as the maze, making me wonder how the maids remember every room and floor.Thinking of the maids, I notice as I climb the stairs, I don’t spot any.
Zeke pauses to speak with a guard.
There is a heavy, oppressive silence that hangs in the air, making me feel anxious.I can feel the eyes of the lycan guards on me as I climb to the first level.I am acutely aware of the tension in the air on this floor.
“It’s already set up in your room, My King,” the guard replies, glancing back at Zeke.He nods and points toward the huge, heavy doors leading to their sleeping quarters.
“My King, I know you’re angry, but...”
“Don’t question me!”Zeke snarls, making me wonder what is happening.The guard glances at me.
“Did you run it by your brothers?”The guard questions, and Zeke growls, making him drop his head.
“Questionme again, and you will spend the next week in the cells.Are we clear?”Zeke snaps.The guard clenches his jaw, and I notice another guard standing nearby, also watching.
“My apologies, My King.It won’t happen again,” the guard quickly apologizes.My brows furrow in confusion, and Zeke snarls threateningly, turning toward me.I duck behind a pillar, trying to figure out what is going on, when the second guard speaks.
“My King, I think Elias was just wondering if you are thinking clearly.You know how wolfsbane affects temperament.We are just worried you’re not thinking normally.We tested the bottle, and the concentration was quite high.We are worried that it is affecting your judgment concerning the girl.Maybe you should sleep on—” his words are cut off by Zeke’s quick movement, and I cover my mouth, stifling the gasp that tries to escape me.
“If I wanted your opinion, I would ask,” he says coldly.
“Yes, My King!”the man rasps, his face turning purple as he struggles to breathe.My heart races when Zeke shoves him away.“Next one to question me dies!”he snaps, turning on his heel and continuing in my direction.
Not wanting to be spotted, I quickly rush to the doors and push them open, heading toward my room so I can get some clothes.Zeke’s hand snatches my wrist.His grip is punishing, and I cry out, feeling his fingers bruising me.
“Last I checked, you still have five more hours with me!”Zeke snarls, dragging me back to his bedroom.He opens the door, shoving me inside, and I end tripping over the huge rug, barely catching myself in time before I headbutt the floor.His anger is palpable, and I can feel it radiating off him as he steps in after me and slams the door shut.His voice is cold and menacing, and I can tell he’s not going to let me out of this room anytime soon.
“Get up!”he barks.
Glancing around the room, I can see there is no escape.I slowly stand up, taking a deep breath as I prepare myself for what’s to come.I stare at the decadent furniture around us.The room is filled with the warm glow of the lamps on either side of the four-poster bed.
Turning around slowly, I look for Hunter, but he isn’t in his cage by the writing desk in the corner, and despite the roaring fire filling the marble fireplace, a shiver runs down my spine.“Where’s Hunter?”I ask.
Zeke’s anger crackles in the air like the wood in the fireplace.“With Lyon,” he responds as he shoves me toward the bed.I stagger forward and clutch the wooden frame just as a silver glint catches my eye.Before I can comprehend what it is, Zeke moves impossibly fast, clamping a set of handcuffs onto my hands.
“Zeke?”I stammer as my heart beats erratically.He growls, his chest pressing against my back.“You could cost me my throne,” he growls next to my ear.As I turn around, he presses his entire body against mine, shoving me over the end of the bed once more.He reaches for the silver thing I spotted, and I finally recognize it for what it is—a chain.
He attaches it to the handcuffs while I struggle to break free of him.He snarls, stepping back and yanking on another chain.He rips my arms above my head.The grating of metal on the tall wooden bed post is loud, and I thrash.Zeke ignores my pleas, tugging my hands until only the tips of my toes touch the thick rug.My arms ache as I twist from side to side, and Zeke locks the chain around a hook, leaving me suspended.
“You will think twice about running from me again!”he growls, walking back toward the door.At first, I think he is leaving me here, but he stops and grabs something from beside the door.When he turns around, I notice it was the piece of birch he had in his hand when we walked home.
“Zeke, wait...What are you doing?”I snap as he comes over to me.He doesn’t respond.His hand works open the button and zipper on my pants, and I kick my legs and thrash in my restraints.He rips them down my legs, tossing them aside and leaving my bottom half bare.I might as well be completely naked with the small coverage my torn shirt gives me.
I plead for him to let me go, but my words are cut off when I feel the birch slash across the back of my thighs.I sputter, choking on the pain, when he pulls the piece of birch back again.This time I scream as pain tears through my backside.The pain is all I can focus on as he beats me with the birch until my legs are nothing but a bloody mess covered in welts.Blood trickles down my legs and drips from my toes, staining the thick rug.When he has finished, he uses the birch to lift my head that hangs limply between my arms—forcing me to look at him.
“You won’t be running anytime soon,” he sneers, tossing the birch aside before stalking out of the room, leaving me dangling from the bedpost.
Chapter 45
It’s daylight by the time he returns.The sun filters in throughthe windows, its warm light casting a golden hue on the bedroom.The light is gentle but intense, and it makes my body sting as it warms the cuts lacing my skin.My arms ache furiously, my shoulders feel dislocated, and I lost the feeling in my hands hours ago.I squint my eyes at the brightness of the room as it illuminates the back of my eyelids.Blood is caked to my legs and backside.I don’t bother lifting my head when I hear the door open, and Zeke stumbles back into the room.
He reeks of alcohol and mutters to himself when he stubs his toe on the corner of the chaise.He curses before kicking it and breaking the wooden leg off.This causes me to wince when a splintered piece flakes off and hits my thigh.Hearing him muttering to himself, he moves past me and picks up the piece of broken wood at my feet, bottle clutched in the crook of his arm.
Fear makes me glance in his direction, and his entire body tenses, he then lifts his head slightly, his eyes moving to mine and a look of confusion sweeps over him.He blinks at me and rubs his eyes quickly, almost like he is dazed as he jumps, standing upright.
