Lycan King’s Captives novel Chapter 40

Once back at the castle, it doesn’t take long before Xandros goes back to ignoring me, using the excuse it is for my safety when we learned King Vin would be staying longer than he initially claimed. The limousine was dragged off for examination, though I doubt they’ll find much since there was barely anything left of it once the fire tore through it.

The driver was buried the day after the accident, and watching his daughter cry over his coffin as he was laid to rest was horrid.

Since then a few days have passed, which I believe has something to do with King Dresden, yet he is a good actor playing the role of a worried father and concerned king; no one seems to have noticed or seen past the façade, and I can’t be bothered arguing it, what’s the point; I am invisible until they choose to use me or request something of me.

However, things have since returned to a semblance of normalcy. Although, tension is still lingering in the air. King Vin remains at the castle, and I haven’t seen Xandros for the past two days now. Surprisingly, I find myself not caring about his absence. Sitting in the walk-in closet, I dial Toby’s number, my heart racing with the excitement of knowing I would hear his voice. Hiding in this closet has become the highlight of my days. For a moment, I can pretend I am not here but with someone who actually does care for me.

It has become a daily ritual in a sense; all day, I anticipate speaking with Toby. It’s like a reward at the end of the day after playing handmaiden to Carina. Xandros sent word via Javier that he must keep his distance right now, that Vin has constantly been pestering him and pushing for the wedding. He thinks he is making progress with Carina signing the divorce papers. I believe otherwise; they seem the same.

Toby answers the call after the second ring, and I smile goofily, his voice filled with excitement.

“Hey, babe, I didn’t think you’d call. I’ve been waiting by the phone for an hour,” Toby tells me.

“I got caught up with Adina; she spotted me talking to Rehan in the halls.”

“That old fossil still training you?” he asks, and I sigh, another thing that has become a ritual every morning at the crack of dawn. Rehan shows up to train with Javier and me, yet it seems pointless because Vin hasn’t come near me since the accident.

“Yep, every morning. Adina asked if something was going on between me and Rehan.” I chuckle at the thought.

“Like she wouldn’t feel it if there was.” Toby laughs.

I sigh; things have become comfortably miserable and normal to the point where I no longer care. It is what it is…

“So, any news?” I ask him nervously, praying he was able to get a hold of the seekers after the failed attempt. Security was heightened after the accident, making escape impossible, yet now things have died down. I’m hoping he has been able to reach out to them again.

“Actually, I do have some news. After our last failed attempt of breaking out, Sienna, the seekers have arranged an escape plan for Saturday. Tyra will sneak you out in the laundry hampers on Friday like originally planned, then you need to make your way through the old tunnel system to meet me. I will pick you up at the back of your old house. We will stay at a hotel until Saturday morning until the seekers can sneak us out the next morning.” Toby explains.

“Xandros will be able to track me down; the bond will lead him to me if I remain in the city,” I worry.

“Which is why I will be marking you before we leave. It will stop him from sensing you, it will tarnish the bond, and he’ll be in too much pain to come after you. I’ve emptied out all my accounts over the past couple of weeks. Tasha will handle the club. We can finally get you out of the city, Sienna, and start a new life together,” he assures me.

As I listen to Toby’s words, it feels like a dream come true, a fairy tale unfolding before my eyes. I can envision a life of freedom and happiness, away from the constraints of Xandros, free to be with Toby.

“What about my mark?” I ask, my voice tinged with uncertainty. “He forced me to mark him,” I admit.

Toby sighs heavily. “I have a plan for that, too; I know a witch who can break the bond. It may be costly, but there is a way to free you from the mate mark, allowing us to be together without any lingering ties to him.” I chew my lip; despite hating Xandros, I still wonder what kind of effect that will have on him when we break the mate bond.

Just as I hang up the phone and hide it away, I hear Javier’s voice calling out my name. Relief washes over me, and I rush to open the door. “It’s just you, thank God,” I breathe.

Javier has become my only friend in the castle. I don’t really know what to make of King Rehan and my relationship; he now treats me like the daughter he never had, yet not at the same time since only I and Javier see that side of him, so I don’t know whether to class him as a friend or a foe with an agenda which he is yet to reveal to me. I never know with this family; for all I know, he is probably hoping I finish my parents’ job and kill off his son and wife to collect insurance money.

“Just bringing up your dinner,” he says, moving toward the coffee table. He sets the tray down.

“Thank you,” I tell him, and he nods once and turns to leave. Besides the morning routine we have, and when he follows me around like a shadow as I do my chores, I have no one else to talk to. Tyra slips in a hello or good morning when I drop the linens off each morning. We can’t risk being seen talking. So, Javier is my only choice for friendly conversation. And this place is extremely lonely.

“Wait!” I call out to him as he reaches for the door handle. He sighs; I know he must get sick of babysitting me or standing outside my door. “Please stay,” I murmur, two simple words, and I can’t even hide my desperation or the loneliness lacing my words. The empty castle walls seem to close in on me more and more each day, and I long for actual physical company. A friend.

“You know I am not supposed to; if Xandros finds out I spend the mornings in here or his father, he’d be mad, and he’d take it out on you, you know this,” he tells me. I nod, a lump forming in my throat. I suppose I could stay on the phone with Toby until I fall asleep, yet I’d run out of credit, and that means asking Javier for more since I have no money or a way to recharge it. I hate asking more of him. He goes to leave again, and I turn toward my food, spotting the slice of cheesecake. I know Javier or Rehan is sneaking it up to me because I never used to get desserts.

“I’ll share my cheesecake with you,” I offer, holding out a small slice from the tray. Javier smiles, his eyes reflecting a genuine warmth while also echoing pity back at me. Am I really that pathetic that I’ve been reduced to begging for a friend? Javier bites his lip, glancing at the door.

“Only for a little while,” he agrees, taking a seat in the armchair. He grabs the remote and flicks on a movie, creating a sense of comfort and distraction. I try to give him my cheesecake, he shakes his head.

“No, you eat it. I don’t want anything from you, Sienna. You don’t need to bribe me; I just don’t want to get you in more trouble,” he tells me. Trouble for wanting the company of an actual person and not the voices coming from the TV.

Sitting, I eat my dinner. I find the loneliness of being in this room a little less cold with Javier’s quiet presence. He is also a welcome distraction from my bond that grows more haywire each day when left on my own. With nothing to do and no distractions, I find it becomes my sole focus, the longing, and pain of it so hollow and cold.

The bond between Xandros and me continues to grow stronger each day despite his absence. Now I can even feel when Carina brushes up against him and touches him in any way; it burns. I know they don’t have sex; it’s merely her touching him because I also feel his repulsion, his anger when she does, yet a few times I’ve also felt his protectiveness of her which leaves me confused.

Halfway through the movie, exhaustion takes hold, and I fall asleep on the couch.

When I wake up, I find myself in my own bed, the blanket tucked around me; the room is cloaked in darkness. The emptiness of the space feels suffocating, and my bond aches in my chest, a painful reminder of Xandros’s absence. Javier must have put me in bed because I don’t remember waking up at any point.

Once again, Xandros never came to see me, leaving me to face the cold night alone, leaving my bond in pain once again. Does he not feel its distress, or does he simply not care? I’ve tried to sense his yet I can’t; as if he blocks me out sometimes.

Desperate for a distraction, I try to call Toby, hoping to find relief in hearing his voice. However, there’s no answer on the other end. Wrapping my fluffy robe around myself, I attempt to warm up by the now extinguished fire. I know Javier won’t be outside my door; he usually leaves once I fall asleep. I’ve woken a few times and called out to him or gone out into the hall to find him gone.

The unbearable ache of the bond intensifies, and I exhale, feeling defeated. With a heavy heart, I move to my bedroom door and open it, knowing I am never truly alone in the castle. The watchful eyes of the cameras track my every move. Driven by a mix of curiosity and desperation, I make my way to Xandros’s quarters.

The hallway is empty except for a few stray servants and guards. Their heads are bowed, but their eyes glance up at the sound of my slippered feet scuffling along the stone floors. Some eyes glare at me, some are masked in indifference, yet all watch me. I wrap my arms around my waist, trying to ward off the cold that has seeped into my bones.

I pass the camera in the hall, and the light is now off, meaning they’re not using it for the moment, or perhaps it’s been overridden. I’m not sure, and I don’t care. My need to be near my mate overpowers my curiosity, and so I continue on. I can see his door looming before me; I’m almost there. The wind howls outside, drowning out my footsteps as I walk the lonely castle halls.

Once there, I press my ear against the door; I hear no noise and sit outside his door for a while. It does nothing to stop the hollow ache in my chest. Even in this quiet solitude, no relief comes. About to give up and leave, I hesitate, my hand gripping the door handle. To my surprise, I find it is unlocked.

The door creaks open, and I cautiously push it ajar, just enough to slip inside. The room is dimly lit, the faint glow of moonlight seeping through the curtains. As I peer around, I’m instantly hit with Xandros’s addictive, intoxicating scent and Carina’s delicate floral perfume. It’s a potent combination that makes my head spin. I carefully close the door and turn to look at the bed. The sheets are rumpled on the bed in the shape of two bodies; Xandros faces the door, arms folded in his sleep, while Carina presses against his back.

My heart thuds in my chest as I chew on my lip, my nerves gnawing at me. Slowly, I make my way to Xandros’s side of the bed, lying down on the floor, trying to blend into the shadows. I know I shouldn’t be here, but I can’t resist the temptation to be close to him, even if it’s just for a stolen moment. As I try to make myself comfortable, I turn to face the bed. Xandros’s scent is thick in the air directly above me, like a heady incense that permeates my nostrils, making my head swim with wild thoughts. I breathe in the scent, trying to calm myself.

Suddenly, a deep, guttural groan breaks the silence, shooting my eyes open. The sound of fabric and shuffling on the bed makes my heart race. Peering up, I see Carina’s perfectly manicured hand gripping Xandros shoulder, rolling him onto his back. Panic surges through me as I realize they’re waking up when I hear Xandros muttering in his sleep. Then, I hear it—Xandros murmuring my name. My heart clenches, and a sharp pain shoots through my stomach, aching and cramping. I press my hand against my mouth, desperately trying to stifle any sound. I can’t believe what I’m hearing—“Anna, sleep,” he groans, and I hear Carina stifle her giggle.

I catch a glimpse of movement on the bed in the dim light. I can’t tear my eyes away as I watch Carina. My heart stops as I see Carina straddling Xandros, her body illuminated by the moonlight. Every muscle in my body tightens, and I can feel an icy chill run down my spine. I want to scream, to shout at her to stop but my throat is too dry, and my tongue feels like lead in my mouth. All I can do is sit there, immobile and paralyzed by pain.

Carina gazes down at Xandros with a hungry look in her eyes before she leans closer to him and presses her lips against his. His hand slides up her back and fists in her hair as her lips descend on his naked chest. “Sienna, sleep. It’s late,” Xandros murmurs. Carina smiles cunningly while I remain frozen in place, knowing if I move, I will give myself away.

She frees him from his boxer shorts, and her lips wrap around Xandros’s cock. Her head bobs up and down, and the sight tears at my heart. Xandros’s hand is fisted in her hair, guiding her, and a moan escapes her lips at his touch. The feeling of betrayal churns in the pit of my stomach like bile as I watch them in bed. Yet I remain motionless on the floor beneath them, as if I were invisible or nothing more than furniture for their personal pleasure.

My world shatters at that moment, and tears blur my vision. The moment she moans, “That’s it, baby,” Xandros suddenly jolts awake. I duck back down, hiding beneath the bed, my body trembling. “What the fuck, Carina!” Xandros’s voice booms and a thud follows. Carina groans, hitting the floor. Their voices grow louder as they argue, and I shrink further into my hiding place.

“You’re my husband; I should be allowed to touch you!” Carina’s voice trembles with frustration. “No, we had an agreement. I stay in this room so your father doesn’t find out about us not getting married until after you’ve left. But I never agreed to you touching me!” Xandros’s voice is filled with anger and resentment.

My heart pounds in my chest, fear gripping me as their voices grow louder. “Every damn time your father gets you alone, you revert to some desperate little girl trying to get his approval. What has gotten into you? What has he got over you?” Xandros’s voice is laced with both concern and frustration. Carina remains silent, refusing to answer his question.

“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me!” His voice rises, desperation creeping into his tone. “If we just give him what he wants, he won’t bother us again. I can remain here,” Carina pleads. Xandros scoffs, clearly unconvinced by her reasoning.

“Please?” Carina’s voice takes on a desperate tone as she resorts to begging. She peers out from behind the corner of the bed, reaching out to touch him. “Just close your eyes and pretend I am Sienna,” she pleads, her voice cracking with vulnerability. Xandros grips her wrists, pushing her away. “You’re not Sienna. She is in enough pain without us causing her more.” Carina reaches for him, and he steps back.

“Why is he pushing so hard for this?” Xandros demands.

“The alliances,” Carina answers, yet not even she sounds so sure of her answer.

Xandros scoffs.

My breath catches in my throat, and I struggle to comprehend what’s happening.

Xandros really wasn’t lying when he said he and Carina were working out the divorce, yet why has she backtracked. She lifts her hand, motioning for him to remain quiet when he goes to argue again with her.

“What is it?” Xandros asks.

“Do you hear that?” she asks, tilting her head to the side. I quickly duck back down, my heart pounding in my chest as her naked body moves toward the door. She tilts her head, brows furrowing as she strains to hear when her head snaps in my direction. She blinks rapidly, eyes roaming over me. “Well?” Xandros asks, and Carina wanders toward me.

“Seems you don’t have to pretend since she is right here!”

I watch from my hiding place as Carina approaches me, her eyes locking with mine. My heart leaps into my throat, fear and anticipation intertwining within me. She tilts her head to the side, studying me with a mix of curiosity and amusement. I know the consequences of being discovered are severe, but I can’t tear my eyes away from her piercing gaze.

Without warning, Carina reaches down and grabs my arm, pulling me up from my hiding place. ”Sienna?” Xandros gasps, his eyes are wide in horror. A whimper escapes my lips as her arm wraps around my chest, holding me tightly. Xandros reaches out, his hand trembling with worry. I see the concern etched on his face, his outstretched hand a silent plea for her not to hurt me.

Carina runs her nose along the side of my neck, her breath warm against my skin. “Please, I’ll go. I won’t come back,” I whisper, my voice trembling with fear and desperation.

The room is heavy with tension as Carina continues to hold me close, her touch both intoxicating and suffocating. I’m caught between the conflicting desires to stay and be with Xandros and the overwhelming need to run away from this tangled web of pain, betrayal, and his wife.

“How many times have you snuck into our room at night?” Carina’s voice purrs with a mix of amusement and curiosity.

“Carina, let her go,” Xandros growls, his voice laced with warning. Carina presses her nose into my hair, inhaling my scent as if trying to claim me.

“How many, Sienna?” Carina asks, her tone dripping with taunting delight.

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I try to find my voice. “Only this time, I never meant to intrude. I made a mistake, and I promise it won’t happen again,” I manage to stammer out, my words filled with both shame and regret. As Carina’s hardened nipples scrape against my back through my cami, a shiver runs down my spine, both from the touch and the complex emotions swirling within me.

Xandros seems taken aback by my confession, his gaze avoiding mine as he swallows guiltily. The weight of his shock bears down on me, and I feel my face flush with embarrassment. Carina’s touch continues to trail down my body, her hands tracing a path of ribs. “Well, I think we just found the solution to your incapacity to get hard for me, Xandros,” Carina purrs, her voice laced with seduction and mischief.

“I bet I can make her cum,” Carina purrs, her tongue trails along the side of my neck as her fingers push inside the waistband of my pants, sending shivers coursing through me. Despite my reluctance and the conflicting emotions churning within me, I can’t deny the sensations that Carina’s skilled fingers elicit. They expertly tease my clit, drawing out pleasure even as I resist her touch.

A warning growl escapes Xandros as he tries to assert his control. “Carina!” he warns, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. Carina only tightens her grip on my jaw, turning my face toward her. “What is it, Xandros? Jealous I’m touching your mate?” Carina purrs, her tongue gliding along my lips, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. And then, she pushes a finger inside me, eliciting a moan from deep within my throat.

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