Lycan King’s Captives novel Chapter 38

The following morning, I wake to Rehan entering my room. Javier instantly moves to greet him, and as I groggily wake up, I note it is still dark outside. Every muscle in Javier’s body tenses up as he runs to greet him, and I can feel the confusion radiating off us both. “My King?” I gasp, jumping out of bed with a start. Confused, I look at Javier, who also appears perplexed by the unexpected visit. “My King?” I ask again, hastily wrapping my blanket around myself.

Rehan’s normally thunderous voice is like a whisper, the intensity in his gaze creating an unbearable tension in the air. His words are like knives piercing my skin, as he growls, “None of this ‘My King’ business. I am not here as your king, I’m here as your father-in-law. Now, time to start your training.” I glance nervously at Javier who stares at the king as if he has lost his mind. “Do you know how to throw a punch?” The pressure around us builds until it feels as if the whole room will explode.

I shake my head, a mix of curiosity and apprehension building within me. My heart hammers in my chest and I feel the first stirrings of unease. Javier yanks the king’s arm, harshly jerking him away from me. I’m shocked by Javier’s forcefulness, and the way he man-handles the king so roughly, yet the king doesn’t seem fazed, as if it isn’t the first time Javier has laid hands on him. I stand awkwardly, clutching my blanket tighter, my arm straining under the pull of the handcuff where I am shackled to the bed. The two of them hiss in hushed whispers, sending me furtive glances as I strain to decipher their words. My apprehension grows with every passing second as I realize the gravity of the conversation upon hearing my mate’s name.

“Does Xandros know?” Javier asks, his voice laced with concern as he casts a nervous glance at me.

“No, and you won’t be telling him. She needs to know how to defend herself, especially while that snake is here,” King Rehan asserts. My eyes widen at the mention of King Vin, the man who gives me an unsettling feeling.

“Now, give me the keys!” King Rehan demands holding his hand out expectantly to Javier. Javier presses his lips in a line. “You know I’m right, Javier,” the king adds, and Javier reluctantly hands a set of keys to the king, who swiftly unlocks my handcuffs.

I flex my sore wrists, relief flooding through me as I massage feeling back into it, the cold metal having left indents in my skin.

“Let me guess, after last night’s incident, he’s forbidden you to shift?” Rehan questions, his eyes scanning me curiously. I nod, uncertain of where this is leading.

This is the first time I have really got a good look at the man, this close, he appears shorter than when I have seen him in the dining hall, not as intimidating. Maybe it’s the royal red silk pajamas he wears and his matching slippers. His hair is dark, like black ink, perfectly combed back. He reminds me a little of his son, they share a lot of the same features.

Plump cheeks, feigned redness staining them and a sparkle in his eyes that seems too innocent for this man when his lips turn up in the corners cunningly.

“Well, we’ll make do. Now get ready,” he instructs, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Now try to punch me, give it a good hard crack,” he encourages, bouncing on the balls of his feet, looking absolutely ridiculous since he is in his pajamas, and the scuffling of his orthopedic slippers just makes it all the more bizarre.

“Excuse me?” I blurt in shock, my mind struggling to comprehend the request. He can’t be serious.

“Come on, girlie, show me what you got!” King Rehan exclaims, his eyes twinkling with excitement. I hesitate for a moment, and Javier nods for me to do as the king asks. I cringe internally; who am I to deny the crazy king? Slowly lifting my arm and throw a punch at his outstretched fist. He dodges it easily, letting out a hearty chuckle, and motions for me to try again.

“I promise you, girlie, I may be old, but I’m still lithe on my feet,” he says with a smirk, demonstrating some peculiar footwork. Javier snorts at the sight, shaking his head in amusement.

This time, when I throw my punch, he catches it midair and uses my own momentum to swing me around backhanded before releasing me. A thrill of surprise courses through me as I’m reminded that despite his age, this man can still hold his own in battle if necessary. I stumble back, trying to regain my balance, and peer up in surprise.

“What did you think of that one? Not bad for an old man.” He grins mischievously and motions for me to come at him again. I shake my head, he’s insane.

“You need to learn how to defend yourself. King Vin is in the castle for who knows how long,” Rehan explains, his expression growing serious. My unease intensifies as the gravity of the situation settles upon me. Still, I hesitate to take action, this feels far too odd, and some part of me wonders if I am trapped in a dream, in some twisted alternate reality. This man has barely said two words to me since being here and suddenly wants me to punch him?

“Hit me!” the king commands, his eyes narrowing slightly. I look to Javier, hoping for some clarification on whether the king has lost his marbles.

“I always get stuck playing the guinea pig,” Javier growls softly, reluctantly stepping forward and swinging at the king. In a swift and fluid motion, Rehan blocks Javier’s punch and counters with a skilled strike, knocking Javier onto his back with a resounding thud.

My eyes widen in astonishment as I witness the king’s agility and strength. A mix of fear and excitement courses through my veins. He turns his attention back to me, a challenging glimmer in his eyes. “Don’t let the slippers fool you, Anna, I’m stronger than I look,” he tells me, waving me forward. I chew my lip, glancing down at Javier who stares up at the ceiling almost bored.

“Now it’s your turn. Don’t hold back,” The king says, adopting a defensive stance. I take a deep breath and cautiously step forward, attempting a punch. Rehan easily evades it, demonstrating his agility and quick reflexes once again. We continue the training session, with Rehan patiently guiding me through various moves and techniques, though I don’t understand why, it seems pointless to me.

My muscles ache with each exertion, bruises forming on my arms and legs as I absorb a few accidental blows. The training is grueling, pushing me to my limits, and beyond. By the time we are done, the sun is shining outside, the morning birds chirp while I clutch my knees panting having had the wind knocked out of me again. “You’re too frightened, how many times do I need to tell you to forget my status?” King Rehan states.

“This is pointless, I can’t even shift! So what good would I be defending myself against him,” I tell him as the session comes to an end. I collapse onto the rug, my body weary. Rehan wipes his head with a towel, his gaze meeting mine.

“That will do for today. Besides, I must get to breakfast before anyone notices, or Adina wakes up,” he says, his voice filled with a hint of exhaustion. He leaves the room, and I find myself lying on my back, staring at the ceiling.

Javier stands over me, his expression a mix of concern and weariness. “Go shower, Sienna. I suspect the king will try to sneak off to see you, and you’re covered in his father’s scent. He’ll ask questions,” he tells me.

“So?” I respond, my voice laced with fatigue and defiance.

“So, in case you haven’t noticed, your mate isn’t here, and he forbade me from letting anyone in here with you. Meaning he doesn’t know about Rehan’s little training session. Now get up, I am not being skinned alive because you are too lazy to shower,” Javier snaps at me.

I groan and roll onto my side, pushing myself up from the rug. With aching muscles and a heavy heart, I make my way into the bathroom, my mind filled with conflicting thoughts when I stop, turning back to face Javier.

“If I have to keep this secret, then you need to get me a phone,” I tell Javier, my voice firm as I stand in the bathroom doorway.

“Excuse me?” he replies, surprise evident in his tone.

“A phone, or I tell Xandros you let his father visit,” I assert, a sense of determination fueling my words.

“Are you blackmailing me?” Javier asks, his brows furrowing. “Why do you want a phone?”

“What time do you think you’ll be done?” Vin asks, his voice laced with an underlying tension. His arms are folded across his body as he stands with his feet spread apart. He wears his black hair loose, framing his porcelain white skin, highlighting the deep lines in his forehead and around his eyes. His face is devoid of expression as he stares at me, his eyes showing no signs of recognition or compassion.

“We should be back by 2 PM, though you’re leaving a little earlier, aren’t you, Carina?” Adina replies, her smile concealing any hint of the hidden turmoil within our lives. Carina nods.

However, when Vin’s eyes land on me, he shoots me a glare, and I avert my gaze, my heart racing. The encounter is brief, but the weight of his disapproval hangs heavy in the air. As the queen and Carina stride away, I move to follow, desperate to escape the suffocating atmosphere.

I try to pull away from Xandros’s grip when he clasps my arm tighter. He stares at me. “What happened to your cheek?” he whispers, his voice laced with emotion, he lifts his hand where Rehan accidentally got me when I didn’t dodge fast enough. He brushes his thumb over the mark.

My gaze quickly shifts to Javier behind him, and Xandros questions me further before I can answer. “Did one of them do this to you? Tell me and I will handle it,” he adds, his eyes searching mine for answers.

I shake my head, my voice filled with bitterness. “No, Xandros. The mark on my cheek is a result of your actions, of you handcuffing me to the bed!” I lie effortlessly.

Xandros looks taken aback by my words; he releases his grip on me and takes a step back. Guilt flashes across his face, and I can feel his remorse through our bond. “No more handcuffs,” he concedes, his voice softening. “You must remain with Carina and Javier at all times. Promise me,” he whispers.

Reluctantly, I nod, knowing I have no choice but to comply. The freedom I crave is still out of reach, replaced by the suffocating constraints of this new reality. The restraints of my mate and his family. Xandros leans down, pressing his lips to my forehead as he pulls me into his embrace. “Xandros!” I hiss at his actions, glancing around nervously for King Vin, thankfully, he has wandered off elsewhere.

“I missed you,” he whispers.

“Funny, you handcuffing me to the bed says otherwise,” I retort, and he growls. “You knew you’d be punished for running, what did you expect?” he hisses at me angrily.

“Not to be handcuffed to a bed like some bed toy,” I growl. Xandros sighs when I hear someone clear their throat. Both Xandros and I tense.

“Sienna, dear, are you coming?” Carina’s singsong voice calls out from the doorway, interrupting our conversation. Xandros turns to see her standing there, a picture of innocence. “I might be coming home earlier. Mom wants me to call her. Can you send the other car at 1 PM for me instead of 2?” Carina asks, her gaze shifting between Xandros and me.

Xandros nods, seemingly lost in thought and I step away from him, this situation growing more tense, yet Carina doesn’t seem upset, more accepting of their strange relationship. I want no part in it. Glancing at Carina, she digs through her purse, retrieving her phone.

Carina’s a vision in a white summer dress, its skirt a modest knee-length, and the neckline dips low between her ample cleavage. Her hair is tied into a high ponytail, and she’s wearing a pair of silver peep-toe pumps. “I’ll organize it,” Xandros answers her, and she nods. “The car will be here in a moment, Adina already called for it,” Carina tells me, and I nod, watching as she turns back to the door and steps out to stand with Adina.

“Go,” Xandros tells me. I glance once more at the door leading outside, knowing I have to play my part in this intricate dance. With a heavy sigh, I step away from Xandros, not even slightly excited about being stuck with these two women all day. Javier follows silently, remaining close as I expected he would. Stepping out the door, I move to join Carina and Adina, and we head toward the waiting car.