Page 38 of Lycan King's Claim
“Perhaps a friend instead,” Javier says, and Sienna rolls her eyes. “It’s the same thing when my “friend” is also my babysitter,” she says snarkily, but he’s used to her antics and instead loops his arm through hers, leading her back toward the castle.
“I will let you pick the movie, even sit through The Lion King for the hundredth time with no complaints,” Javier tells her.
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I don’t know if I merely attended the wedding to torture myself more, or if I was going for Carina. What a peculiar relationship we have with each other considering we hated each other at first. I'm not certain whether she is a friend or an enemy half the time, so neither label feels right; maybe it’s understanding, some deeper level of recognizing each other’s pain.
Or it could be our forced hands, our reluctance to hurt one another, though both of us have hurt each other, our intentions though not malicious in intent. She was married to my mate, then ran off with the man I had wanted. As much as that thought saddens me, I am happy she found someone as great as Toby. He will give her the love and care she deserves. Most might think me insane to be able to sympathize with the woman who threatened to steal my mate. Still, he had been hers first, if you really thought about it. They were legally married, after all.
Glancing over my shoulder at Xandros as Javier leads me back to the castle, I wonder what he is thinking. Our bond is so disturbing and pained that I don’t recognize any feeling in it anymore except the anguish it feels.
“The Council will handle King Vin and Anita. Xandros will ensure it,” Javier nudges me.
“And Toby will look after Carina,” I nod. Things seemed to be working out, but why did I not feel relief?
Javier nods slowly, pushing the door open and waiting for me to enter the foyer of the castle. “It’s funny how things work out,” Javier states cautiously. I hear the wariness in his voice, and I offer no answer. Once back to my room, I look for my uniform, intent on going back to work, anything to distract me from the thoughts that wage war in my head. Coming out of the walk-in closet, Javier glances up from where he sits on the couch.
“No, Xandros wants you here for when he comes up. He is under enough stress without him having to hunt you down when he comes looking,” Javier states, turning on The Lion King.
“Why would he have to hunt me down? He has a direct link.” I mutter with a roll of my eyes. Ignoring him, I remove my shirt and start putting on my uniform when Javier growls.
“Sienna, please don’t provoke him, not now. Not when things can work out between you,” I scoff at his words. “For him or for me? What is your idea of things working, Javier, because being his mate isn’t one that comes to mind for me,” I tell him while struggling with the zip on these new uniforms. Hopefully, this one is purely for the wedding; if not, I will be complaining to Adina about them.
“Oh, for frig sake, Sienna,” Javier grumbles, and I look over at him to find him quickly looking away. “Well, you’re the one in my room. If you would rather not see my white ass, get out,” I retort.
“It’s not like you haven’t seen me naked before; I’m pretty sure you’ve seen more of me than you’d like,” I laugh while struggling with the zip at the back of the dress. I get it halfway up, only to feel his hands rip the zip down. I turn on him with a snarl.
“I see nothing, hear nothing, my Queen,”
“The pub?” I ask him.
“Saw nothing, like I see nothing now; however, I wish I could unhear the noises; those were quite disturbing. I love you, my Queen, but you’re a screamer,” my face heats.
“I thought you said you hear nothing,” I tell him.
“By choice, I hear nothing; that night, I had no choice; if he was going to kill you, I needed to know to get you out, though after a while, once I was convinced you could handle him, I let my mind wander,” he tells me.
“Good then, you’re not seeing or hearing me leave then,” I tell him.
“You’re not leaving, now get that off before Xandros returns, or I will rip it off you,” he warns.
“You will do no such thing,” I growl at him.
“Moon goddess, please have mercy, just this once, and don’t make her fight me,” he pleads. I roll my eyes at his theatrics.
“You’re being dramatic. Besides, Xandros will be hours,” I tell him.
“So stubborn, it’s why you’ll make a good Queen one day; Xandros will have to fight you every turn he tries to make,” he laughs before wandering back to the couch.
I struggle with the zip when suddenly the door opens. Javier glances over before returning his attention to the TV. The charged air in the room prickles my skin as Xandros steps in, his presence causing the anxiety coiling in my gut to flare up. The television blares on, its senseless chatter drowning out the hammering of my heart. He peers over at me getting changed and Javier casually watching TV. His jaw clenches. “Javier is in the room,” Xandros snaps.
“So are you,” I tell him when Javier calls out from his armchair. “I see nothing,”
“It’s selective,” I snap back at him. Xandros, clueless to mine, and Javier’s spat moves into the room, and I tense, every muscle screaming in rebellion at his closeness as he stops beside me.
“Javier?” Xandros glances at him, and he places the remote on the coffee table. “I’ll go see the Council off,” Javier says, wandering toward the door. My heart beats faster, knowing he is leaving me alone with Xandros. The door clicks shut, and Xandros digs in the pocket of his jacket, handing me a piece of paper.
The air in the room thickens, each breath heavy with anticipation. Xandros stands in front of me, his presence causing a shiver to run down my spine. I can feel my heart pounding against my chest.
