Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings
Chapter 69

~Zirah POV~

As I wrap my mind around what's happening, the air freezes in my lungs, and my blood turns to icein my veins. Every wound inflicted on Zeke appears on Lyon as well. From what he said, it seems likeit's also happening to Regan. This curse is more than just sharing pain or having their lives boundtogether. It's forcing them to experience the consequences of each other's sins.

My heart races as I realize what's happening as I watch Lyon's skin open up once again. The whipmarks covering Lyon's body are deeper with each strike. Red, angry lines cover every inch of him asRegan loses control. As the shower floor fills with blood, the smell of iron fills the air. My heart raceswith panic as I watch Lyon's skin open up repeatedly, and I know I have to replace a way to stop him.

I struggle to my feet, ignoring the pain and discomfort, knowing I need to stop this before it getsworse. Lyon reaches for me, but I shake my head. “Stay here. Try to stop the bleeding. I'll replace Reganand Zeke."

“Zirah...” Lyon groans, making me pause to look back at him.

“I'll replace them. Where would Regan have taken him?” Yet before he can answer, Lyon groans loudlyand slumps forward, passing out. Panic slivers through me as 1 lift his head back to check if he's stillbreathing. He is, but that doesn't help me locate his brothers. Yet I can't wait for him to wake up,either. I stumble out of the shower, trying to replace my bearings as I search for the two brothers.Turning, I race for the door, slipping and skidding on the floors as I burst into the hall.

I don't even care that I only have underwear and a torn shirt on, not when Lyon and Regan'’s livesdepend on it. I hate them for what they've done, but it doesn't warrant death. Zeke, maybe, butLyon?

Glancing down the corridor, I look for any guards, but replaceing none. I pause when my eyes go to theend of the hall to Regan’s door.

Gnash! Without hesitation, I race toward Regan’s bedroom door and burst through it, stumbling inmy haste as I search for his wolf. The moment the door opens, I spot Gnash's white head pop upfrom where he lay on the bed

The moment he spots me, he charges at me and pounces, his tongue licking and tail wagging whileI try to calm him down. Grabbing his big furry head in my hands, I stop his flicking tongue frommauling me. “Where is Regan?” I ask his wolf. Gnash wags his tail and I grip his fur harder.“Gnash...Take me to your master.” I tell him. He pauses, then jumps down, looks at me, then takes offout the door.

As I make my way through the dimly lit corridors chasing Gnash, he leads me downstairs andhalfway down the stairs. I hear the faint sounds of the whip and the pained groans coming fromZeke.

Before I make my way to the basement, I replace myself on the foyer floor, desperately trying to keepup with Gnash. However, the sound of the grand entrance doors opening makes me pause, and Isee King Theron has returned, his face a mix of concern and annoyance while I wonder briefly whyhe has returned early. Shelley and Malachi are hot on his heels, along with another man I do notrecognize. Yet even as I stare at the king, I can see something has drastically changed, he is nolonger the same, he almost appears rejuvenated, his walk is different, his skin, even the way hecarries himself.

“Zirah!" he bellows, his voice echoing through the grand foyer, making me stop in my tracks.“Where are my sons?” he demands, his eyes narrowing as he looks at me expectantly.

I stand there, panic rising in my chest for Zeke, torn between answering the king and continuingafter Gnash. I glance at the way Gnash ran off, knowing that time is running out, but also aware ofthe consequences of disrespecting King Theron.

Before I can decide what to do, Gnash returns and whines at my side, his eyes pleading with me tofollow him. He seems to sense the urgency of the situation, and his loyalty to his master overridesany fear of the king.

With a deep breath, I make up my mind.

Ignoring the king's furious expression, I turn and rush off with Gnash, leading the way to thedungeons. I can hear King Theron shouting after me, his anger clear in his voice, but I don't let itstop me. I know that if I don’t replace them in time, the consequences will be far more severe thananything the king can do to me.

As we reach the dungeon door, I can feel the weight of the king's anger heavy on my shoulders, butI push it aside, focusing on the task at hand and I grip the handle, while Gnash scratches at thedoor. Shoving the door open, I rush down the stairs, only to stop halfway at the scene before me.Zeke is strung up by chains from the dungeon ceiling, his clothes torn and tattered, with deepwounds that still bleed. The stench of blood fills the room, and the floor beneath Zeke is coated inhis own blood.

“Regan!” I shout, trying to make my voice heard above the chaos and the sound of the crackingwhip. “Stop! You're hurting Lyon, too!”

Regan’s face contorts with conflict, but the rage in his eyes doesn't subside. Rushing toward him, Isee Regan is in the same state, Like Lyon, his body is covered in marks from the whip that he holdsin his hand. His anger is so potent he doesn't even appear to acknowledge that while punishing hisbrother, he's also punishing himself. I can see that he’s struggling to regain control. He raises thewhip again, and I realize that I have to act quickly. My eyes flick to Zeke, who hangs limply from theceiling, his back carved to pieces. Zeke doesn't seem even to be fazed by the whip, almost as if hecraves it as he orders Regan. “More!” he rasps out, which seems only to infuriate Regan as the whipslashes his back open more.

As much as I despise Zeke for what he did to me, I can't let Regan kill him, not if it means losingLyon and Regan too. So, without thinking, I run toward Zeke and throw myself in front of his bodyjust as the whip comes down again. The stinging pain is immediate as it hits my skin, and I cry out,tears welling up in my eyes. My scream is deafening as my back arches.

The whip felt like a thousand razors cutting through my skin. I could feel it slicing through the backof my shirt and the thin fabric providing little protection against the sharp sting of the whip. I clenchmy teeth together, trying to fight back the wave of pain that is surging through my body. Tearsstream down my face as I try to stay standing, my body shaking from the agony as my knees giveout, leaving me in a heap on the floor.

My cry of pain is enough finally to snap Regan out of his blind rage. His eyes widen with horror ashe realizes what he’s just done. Before he can react, though, Gnash mauls him, his teeth tearing intoRegan’s arm, forcing him to let go of the whip and defend himself.

Regan backs away, shock and guilt etched on his face. He looks at me, at Zeke, and then at Gnash.The realization of what he was doing sinks in, and the anger slowly drains from him. “Zirah...” Reganstumbles toward me, then stops dead in his tracks. Peering up at Zeke, I reach for the pulley andyank on it. Zeke crashes to the ground beside me in a heap when I feel a draft as the door opens.It's in that moment that I remember my shirt and the way it tore under the crack of the whip. I gasp,turning to peer at Regan to replace his eyes on my back.

A sudden silence fills the room. Both Regan and I freeze. I instinctively try to cover the runes withmy hands, but it's too late.

King Theron’s voice echoes through the basement as he enters, demanding to know why theVampiric King has declared war. However, his words trail off when he catches sight of me on thefloor with Zeke. He takes in the scene surrounding him and follows his sons, stunned expression, tothe runes on my back.

“Litha?" King Theron murmurs, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief.