Page 23 of Lycan King's Claim
His movements become more aggressive, the rhythm between us desperate and unhinged. The taste of blood on my tongue, skin stretch, and that's when I just feel him pounding into me, each thrust giving way to another wave of ecstasy as we leave this world behind.
His teeth find my neck, clamping down on the flesh while he buries himself deep inside me until it's as if there is no distinction between his body and mine.
With every movement, every collision of our bodies, I seek to reclaim what was lost.
The night stretches on, an endless rope of his desire and my desperation to bring him back from the brink.
My eyes flutter open, the disorienting haze of confusion giving way to the horrifying reality that surrounds me. The club, once vibrant with life, now lies in ruins. Bodies lay discarded, the stench of blood and death hangs heavy in the air.
Panic clenches my heart as I try to piece together the fragments of my shattered memory. What happened here? Why am I on the floor, bodies strewn about like discarded toys?
My guilt crashes over me like a relentless wave. I killed them. I killed these people in cold blood. The realization hits me with a devastating force, the weight of their lives extinguished by my loss of control. How could I let this happen? How could I become a monster, a danger to those around me?
Feeling movement, my eyes move to Sienna, I feel a flicker of safety. My bond, once a raging storm, now feels tamed, tucked away as if shielded from harm. It is because of her, because of Sienna, that I find a semblance of control. How did she end up here? Did I drag her into this nightmare? Or did she come willingly, drawn to the very danger that threatens to consume us both?
My gaze drifts to her, her body sprawled across my chest. I run my fingers gently along her scars, tracing the marks left by the madness that possessed me. Her skin bears the remnants of my claws and teeth, stained with the venom that courses through my veins. Panic surges within me, my heart pounding harder in my chest. What have I done to her? Have I irreparably broken the woman I love?
Sitting up, I cradle her in my arms, her body limp and fragile. I tilt her head back, studying her face with a mixture of fear and longing. Her hair, a deep purple like the richest amethyst, now dulled like the pallor of her skin. Yet, even at this moment, she is beautiful. She is sin and salvation intertwined. She stirs in her sleep, rolling in my arms, and I hold her tighter, overcome by a flood of emotions.
I was scared, terrified that I had taken her life. The thought of losing her, of snuffing out the light that resides within her, is unbearable. She nuzzles her face into my neck, seeking my scent and breathing it in. I break down, clinging to her as if she is my lifeline. With her in my arms, I find home.
11
Gently, I lift her in my arms, her weight feeling strangely lighter than before. Guilt gnaws at my insides, a reminder of the havoc I have wreaked upon her. Even her heartbeat, now faint and fragile, double beats and seems to flutter like the wings of a hummingbird. Is it because of our bond, our connection slowly breaking? Holding her close, I feel the longing of my own bond, yearning for its mate, while hers recoils, trembling with fear.
Movement catches my attention, and I shift my gaze to Javier, who stirs awake in a nearby chair. His eyes meet mine, filled with worry and apprehension. Without a word, his gaze drifts to Sienna, naked and vulnerable in my arms. Slowly, he shrugs off his jacket, stepping towards us cautiously, as if afraid that I may not have regained full control.
He covers Sienna's form with his jacket. "You wouldn't let me near," Javier explains, his voice laced with concern. "I tried to cover her, but I couldn't leave either of you in such a vulnerable state," he adds, exhaling heavily.
I nod in acknowledgement, thankful for his presence mingling with the weight of my guilt. "I've ruined her, haven't I?" I ask, my voice filled with anguish. "Her bond still clings to life, some part of her is still hanging onto the bond. You haven't lost her yet," Javier whispers, his words carrying a sense of mystery.
"But I don't understand why. And now, I have destroyed everything. The wedding is tomorrow, there is no going back," I admit, my voice heavy with resignation.
Javier sighs, the weight of my predicament settling upon him like it is me.
Together, we face the consequences of our actions, grappling with the shattered fragments of our lives. The future looms uncertain, clouded by the sins of my stupidity. And as I gaze down at Sienna, my heart aches with the knowledge that I may have irreparably broken the woman who holds my heart.
"I've had a clean up crew sorting the mess outside, they're waiting to enter, have been here for hours. I should get you both home," Javier tells me, and I nod.
Javier leads me out the back of the club, the driver in the limo jolting awake when he hears the door bang shut, he immediately starts the car and I climb in the back with Sienna. "Her heart is beating so fast," I mumble, and Javier tilts his head to the side, listening.
"That's odd," he mumbles. He reaches over to pull the jacket back slightly, and I growl at him. "She's beautiful Xandros, but I am not after your mate." he reminds me and I sigh. He tugs it back, revealing her breast, but his attention isn't on them but the marks covering her body. "Your mark almost seems to be poisoning her."
"The bond I state," and Javier nods sadly, covering her back up. "She's not healing properly. It explains why her heart rate is so faint but so fast," he sighs, scrubbing a hand down his tired face. "Stay with her today, it might help her heal," he tells me, but I shake my head. Sienna doesn't want me near, or at least her bond doesn't. However, I also need to figure out this entire situation with Carina, the wedding, the Council, but most importantly I need to figure out how to save our bond.
"I need to find a way to stop this wedding," I remind him.
Awakening in my own bed, confusion washes over me. The foggy remnants of the previous night's horror fade like a nightmare dissipating with the dawn. I have no memory of my return to my room, making me wonder how Xandros is. With a heavy sigh, I push myself upright from doing up my shoes and I am about to leave the room with Javier, who only tells me that Xandros is working.
However, when I go to head to Carina's room, Adina is waiting for me. I almost groan seeing her, especially when I see she is wearing shorts and a crop top. She hauls me to the gym, even when I refuse to train, she announces it has suddenly become part of my chores. "Adina?" I ask as I get changed back into my uniform.
"Hm?" she answers, wiping sweat off the back of her neck. I cast a glance at Javier, who stands by the wall. Always keeping guard, he may not be watching us explicitly, but I know he's listening. Stepping closer, I drop my voice. "Please don't be mad at me for asking but no one else will answer, and Xandros was angry when he said he killed Toby and so was I, so I am not sure if he meant his words or he just said it to hurt me." I tell her, chewing my lip nervously.
"Well, I am not afraid of my son," she tells me. I hesitate, but I need to know and every time I have tried to ask Javier he ignores the question, and Xandros might keep his word and remove my tongue. I haven't had a chance to ask Carina as I am never alone with her to ask without prying ears of the castle staff. "Did Xandros say what happened to Toby?" I ask and she sighs.
"Wouldn't you rather not know? Because I am afraid the answer won't be what you're after," she tells me, and my stomach sinks. I swallow, feeling guilty of my idiocy, and stealing his life from him. I nod once and finish getting changed to begin my day, my mind whirling with questions. Leaving the gym, Adina and I part ways and I head to retrieve my list of chores.
Hours pass by in a blur as I lose myself in the mundane rhythm of chores. As always, the grandeur of the palace is untouched by the unraveling of my world, its grand halls glinting in the sunlight, its ornate decorations undisturbed. The absence of Carina is the only noticeable change today.
