Lycan King’s Captives novel Chapter 22

The next morning, a maid comes to fetch me. She leads me to Carina’s chambers, where I spend the day following her around, serving her meals, and attending to her needs. Carina is polite enough, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m still a prisoner— nothing more than a possession to Xandros and a slave to his family, and they treat me accordingly.

In the evening, we gather for dinner. As usual, Xandros sits at the head of the table, and I am relegated to standing at the side. I try to ignore the hunger gnawing at my stomach as the rich aroma of food fills the room.

Midway through the meal, I overhear a conversation between Xandros and Carina’s father. “Why does the girl bear your mark, Xandros?” he demands.

“She is my concubine,” Xandros replies without hesitation. “So, yes, she bears my mark.”

Carina’s father looks at me, his eyes dark with anger. “You have marked another while married to my daughter?” he demands.

Xandros just shrugs. “She belongs to me. As I said, she is my concubine.”

Carina’s father looks at her. “And you’re okay with this?” he demands.

“Yes, Father. You know, Lycans turn crazed without their mates.”

Carina’s father shakes his head.

Carina leans in and whispers something in Xandros’s ear. I can’t make out what she is saying, though it can’t be anything good because Xandros’s face turns red with anger.

“I am not just your sex slave; I am her blood bag now,” I whisper bitterly. He takes a step back, staring down at the ground. There’s a moment of silence between us before he speaks again, this time his voice soft.

“It is what it is,” he tells me, and then he stalks out, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As I finish cleaning, I can feel the wound on my neck healing. It does nothing for the emotional pain which remains at seeing my mate so easily give me to her to snack on.

I make my way back to my room, and as I lay on the bed, I feel the loneliness and despair wash over me. How did my life come to this?