Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Lycan Queen's Prey Chapter 44

~Zirah~

My eyes snap open, shooting through the veil of sleep to take in the room cloaked in impenetrabledarkness. My heart pounds like a drum, its beat so loud that I can't hear my own thoughts. Theanxiety is palpable, a heavy weight settles in the pit of my stomach.

The only other sound piercing the silence is a low, mournful whine escaping from Gnash, sitting up,I look for him to replace the huge white wolf sprawled out on the chilly balcony, his head propped onhis front paws as he stares at the moon. I can't help but wonder if he's resonating with the potentswirl of guilt and regret churning inside me for Regan or if he just misses his owner.

Hastily, I push the thought away, forcing my body out of bed to check on him, only when I do Inotice Zeke is not beside me. Grabbing the sheet, I wrap it around my naked body. Moving towardthe balcony door I spot Hunter and Shadow watching him with worry. They instantly move as Iwander over to Gnash, stepping aside and giving me room to kneel next to him.

"Gnash,"” my voice floats into the night, barely more than a whispered plea. My fingers meanderthrough his dense fur, searching for some form of recognition, but he seems detached, his gaze lostin the vast expanse of darkness. It's a palpable unease that sends shivers down my spine. Somethingis amiss and I grab his huge furry head forcing him to look at me.

His tongue flicks out, licking up the side of my cheek before he puffs out a breath pulling away fromme to return to staring into the night. "Are you alright, boy?" I ask him but he just whines loudly thesound tearing me apart he sounds like he is grieving. Hunter edges closer and I step back as thewolf lays at his side, resting his head on Gnash's back.

With a heavy sigh, I step over the both of them, my fingers grazing through Shadow's fur as I moveback to the sliding door. However, when I open it, I can hear muted murmuring of voices seepingfrom somewhere within the room which distracts me.

"Sleeping," I hear Zeke say. My brow pinch as I wonder who he's talking to.

I slip through the slightly open door, my eyes locking onto Zeke's figure standing just outside thebedroom on the landing. He's caught in a sliver of soft moonlight that turns him into a spectralsilhouette from the huge skylights. His voice, hushed yet permeates with an urgency, as it reachesme. Moving toward the door which is slightly ajar. Peeking out I can see he is on the phone withsomeone.

"Damn it... that means he waited till we were gone... we'll head back to the castle and meet himthere..." he mutters into the phone, followed by a brief pause. "Wait, you're coming here?" he askswhile I try to figure out what is going on. Pulling the door open slightly, it creaks.

Suddenly, he spins around, his intense gaze pinning me like a deer caught in the headlights. Mythroat tightens, a wave of guilt washing over me for eavesdropping. Zeke smiles, and motions withhis hand to come to him.

"She just woke up,” he says into the phone.

"Who's that?" I mouth to him and he places the phone on speaker. I replace it is Lyon. Zeke presses hislips to my temple while Lyon continues to talk. “I'm almost to your kingdom, I am only about anhour and half out if that," he says.

"Rightio, I will see you soon,” Zeke states before cutting the call and slipping it back into his pocket.A playful smirk creeps onto his face as his eyes lazily scan my body while his finger toys with thesheet, trying to pull it loose. Instinctively, I clutch the sheet tighter around me, trying to ignore thebutterflies swarming in my belly. "Is everything alright?" I ask Zeke.

"It will be, Regan will handle it," Zeke assures me and I chew my lip. "You're hiding something,” Zekesighs heavily and he cups my face in his hands. His lips gently brush mine. "The vampire king tookMalachi, and Regan believe my father is injured,”

"We should go, we should check on the castle and people in the city.” I tell him, moving toward thedoor to get dressed. Zeke's arm wraps around my waist and he pulls me back. "Regan will handle it,Lyon is on his way here," Zeke tells me but that doesn't make my unease settle.

I shake my head, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. "No, we need to helpRegan and your father,” I argue, tugging away from him. "I can't just sit here and do nothing." I feellike 1 am caught in the midst of a storm, my mind whirling with thoughts and questions. "But whatabout Malachi? We can't just leave him there,” I plead, turning around to face Zeke. He looks at mewith gentle eyes, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I know, Zirah. And we won't leave him there. But we need to be smart about this, and not just rushin blindly," he says, his voice low and soothing. "If Regan said to wait here, that is what we'll do, heknows what he's doing, and he has dealt with this sort of situation before. The vampire king isknown for such tactics when he is trying to get what he wants.”

"But this time is different, and he is doing this as revenge for his son being killed, not over treatyarrangements.” Zeke presses his lips in a line. "He also knows killing Malachi will start a war. LetRegan handle it. Until he says we don't leave here," he tells me. I don't like it, but I am also not usedto the sort of royal games, and clearly this is something they've dealt with before, so I nod, trustingthat he's right.

"Regan can handle it... I promise,” he says nonchalantly, sauntering closer, his arm snaking aroundmy waist as he pulls me flush against him. His fingers start tracing intricate patterns on the sheet, hisproximity making my heart thump wildly.

"But--" I start, only to be cut off by his comforting hold on my face. "And Regan?" He speaks,confirming my worst fears, "Yes, Regan will meet us here once he knows what's going on.”

Regret and guilt flood through me. All of a sudden, he lifts me, a mischievous grin illuminating hisface. "But until then, you're all mine,” he murmurs against my lips before sucking the bottom oneinto his mouth. "And I know you'll be wanting to make it up to Regan, so that means I better get inquick,” he chuckles.

"You truly are a glutton," I quip, barely stifling a laugh. “I don't mind sharing, but I also don't wantto," he chuckles as he tosses me back on the bed; he then crawls onto the bed, pulling the sheetaway as he moves to hover over me.