Page 13 of Lycan King's Claim
"Oh, for frig sake, Xandros, I will be right beside her! I won't let her run, and I doubt she'll try, anyway." his mother argues with him while I wait patiently against the wall. I know if he says no, I will be locked in my room again. Xandros grits his teeth, glaring over at me. He growls and shakes his head. His mother tosses her hands in the air in frustration.
"No, she can go back to her room; I don't trust her," he snarls, and my stomach twists. I swallow, staring ahead at the wall. The next second, I hear the click of Adina's heels. I turn to see her walking toward me. She seizes my arm, dragging me toward the door, and Xandros steps in her path.
"Move. I need help in town. I’ll handcuff her to me if you'd like," she snaps at her son.
My heart pounds as I stare at Xandros’s furious face.
He tilts his hand, and I flinch, bracing for the blow.
It never comes.
"You try anything or leave her fucking side. You'll live in the dungeons when I catch you," he snarls, barging past me. Adina sighs and lets my arm go.
"Brooding Lycan and their ass-holiness. You wouldn't think I birthed him with those manners. A damn caveman has better manners—he gets it from his father," she clicks her tongue.
I snicker.
No—he definitely gets it from her.
I don't tell her that. Instead, I follow her out to the waiting limo.
Sitting across from Queen Adina; tension lines her face, etching the marks of her worries evident for the world to see. I focus my attention out the window, and she rummages in her purse before holding out a compact to me. I take it, opening it to find its foundation.
I look at her, and she points to her collarbone.
"I thought my son healed you?" she murmurs and using the tiny mirror, I see the blackening skin, my brows furrow in confusion. Why is it spreading?
I hastily dab the sponge in the powder, dabbing at the marks, trying to cover them.
"He did. The wounds closed, though it still bruised."
"He mustn't have given you enough blood; I will remind him to check you once home," she tells me, and I shake my head.
"That isn't necessary," I tell her, handing her back her compact. She takes it, dropping it back inside her purse. I return my attention back to the window.
"King Vin is pressing for the wedding to go ahead next week," she says casually, and I nod.
"I'm supposed to be going in to pick up the table name tags and the silk napkins," she adds.
I nod again, trying to pretend anyone other than my mate is getting married.
"The wedding is to go ahead next Saturday, though everyone must be getting sick of the dates changing, I know the caterers are," she adds.
"Though the wedding could be pushed back further," she tells me, I side glance at her wondering why she is telling me this. "Xandros and Carina have been together for two years, he tolerates her, he doesn't love her. Though I think he did try to, she is a bit of a handful, even for my son."
"Although the wedding may not go ahead at all if she is challenged. Such old, outdated traditions. It is law," she tells me. "Something to think about, even if it's just to push it back an extra week. Maybe then my son might come to his senses."
I stare at her. She shrugs, turning her gaze out the window.
Now I'm questioning her intentions by telling me this. Is she wanting Carina to kill me?
The words strike confusion within me, leaving me in a state of bewildered curiosity. Once we've collected the napkins and table name tags, we head back, and I return to the confines of my room.
When Javier enters the room later to check on me, I can't help asking.
"Queen Adina said something odd today," I start, then sigh.
"Right, you can't talk." I wave him off, knowing it's pointless to ask.
