Page 16 of Prey of the Lycan Queen
“Yes. My anger can become obsessive. She knew that. She witnessed it firsthand.”
The confession hangs in the air, a haunting specter that bridges the gap between my past and our present. I feel drained.
As I look into Zirah’s eyes, I see a flicker of something—understanding or maybe sympathy. Whatever it is, it offers a small piece of relief to know she doesn’t blame me like the rest of them. In her, I hope to find not just my salvation, but also my redemption.
She is my chance to be the man my mother believed I could be, to be the king my people need, and the protector Zirah deserves. “Did you catch her killers?” she asks, and my eyes flicker at her words.
“Zeke and Lyon did, with my uncle’s help,” I tell her.
“They got what they deserved,” comes Zeke’s voice, making her jump, and I sigh, turning to look at the balcony. “You know I have a door, right? What is with you and Lyon never using it?”
“Maybe because you don’t answer when we knock, brother,” Zeke laughs, sauntering into the room. “You wanted your clothes,” he says, looking at Zirah. He tosses a few garment bags over the arm of the sofa.
“She has clothes,” I snap. Zeke’s eyes flash black as he peeks over at her, and I know he’s staring at her ass cheeks. I pull my shirt down on her, and he smirks.
Zirah presses her lips together as she watches him wander over to his wolf. He drops into an armchair, and Zeke pats his chest. Hunter sits up and looks at him, then at Zirah. He’s asking for permission.
“You know how annoying that is?” he asks her.
“I bottle fed that bastard, and he looks to you for permission to come to me.” Zirah laughs and sits up. She goes to move off me, but I grip her thighs, holding her in place, not wanting him to steal her attention away, not wanting him to steal her away. I know that it’s irrational. Zirah is made for all of us, yet I want to keep her to myself for a little longer. As much as I hate my brothers sometimes, they are her true mates too. But if the past is anything to go by, I always lose to them.
Her face softens slightly like she knows where my thoughts went. “I’m not breakable. We’ve proved that not even fire will take me from you, so your wrath won’t either,” she whispers as she leans down to peck my lips.
“Oh, for the love of—” Zeke’s words cut off abruptly when she turns to glare at him.
“If I have to watch you fornicate, can I at least have my wolf . . . please?” he asks. She nods to Hunter, who all but skids across the floor to get to him before pouncing into his lap. “Now carry on as you were. I don’t mind watching free porn,” he adds as I hear footsteps on the outside balcony. I groan.
“Knock, Lyon. Regan suddenly needs his privacy for some odd reason,” Zeke calls out just as Lyon rips the curtain back to step into the room.
“Knock on what?” Lyon asks, and when I peer over at him, he’s pretending to knock on the curtained doors. “Knock, knock! Happy?”
“You forgot the secret password,” Zeke tells him, and Lyon’s brows furrow. He looks at me questionably, and I roll my eyes.
“Let me guess. You want to visit your wolf?” I ask.
Lyon nods once, and Zirah rolls her eyes, nodding toward the fireplace. The moment Lyon takes a seat, Shadow jumps on him and frantically licks his face.
“So . . . Have you decided?” Zeke asks, not so casually.
“I don’t want to be part of your stupid games,” she states.
“Good because I am no longer looking for a throne,” Zeke states, and Lyon nods.
“We want our mate,” Lyon adds.
“And if your mate doesn’t want you?”
“Well, I guess we burn in her flames.” Zeke laughs.
“You want to live. That is all this is,” Zirah states.
“Well, maybe, maybe not, but you won’t know unless you give us a chance to prove ourselves,” Zeke tells her.
Chapter Nine
Sighing, I know he’s right, but that doesn’t make me any more comfortable with the idea of being in their kingdoms. “Okay, you said your piece, so leave,” Regan tells his brothers.
“We just got here,” Lyon exclaims. “Besides, I came bearing gifts!” I raise an eyebrow as he rummages inside his jacket pocket, pulling out a clip-lock container. He tosses it at Regan, who snatches it. He holds the clear container to reveal a now mushed cupcake.
