Chapter 23 Chapter 23
Sloane
I didnt know who or what a lycan king was but it didnt sound good.
My gaze darted between the two hulking men, my captors and my protectors. Both their faces wore matching looks of what looked like horror.
They were afraid. I realised with a start. Whoever this King was, he wasn't a good man.
“We need to get her out of here-” Ty whisper hissed and my eyes narrowed. It was pretty clear they were talking about me. Almost like I was in some real danger.
well more danger than i was staying here anyway. The thought made my lips curve up in a crooked half smile.
“No.”Eirians voice is sharp. It brokered no arguments. “What we need to do is bring forward the ritual. They can't take her from us if she is marked and claimed. It's already started, and she's so much stronger now than she was.”
“Se will die and you know it.” Ty's eyes darted down to me almost like he had just realised I was still there. He schooled his face into a smile that did nothing to take away the worry on his face. “Hey.” He said.
“Hey.” I parroted back. “Do you want to tell me what's going on?”
He darted a look at his brother. Eirian shook his head.
I let out a frustrated sigh. “I see,” I said coldly. My shoulders hunched up round my ears.
They were keeping secrets from me but not just that they were keeping secrets that affected me. They were kings so i didnt expect them to tell me everything but surely if this Lycan king was after me and I was in danger then I had a right to know.
My father would have said no, he had always told me I asked too many questions.
The thought made me pause. When I had come here Eirian had promised to send help for my baby brother. Had he done that or was the person I loved starving to death out there in the winter blight.
At my sides my hands clenched into tight fists. “Am I able to go back to my room? I would like to write-”
Eirian's eyes narrowed. It was like he could read my thoughts just by looking at my face. “Your brother is taken care of.” He snapped. “I do not break my promises.”
I let out a sigh of relief but it was short lived when he turned angry eyes on me. Spearing me to the spot. “I will send another this very night, before we have to deal with a siege but-”
“Dont say it.” Ty warned with a shake of his head.
“Say what?” I narrowed my gaze on Eirian. “I will do anything to make sure my brother survives. You know that.”
“You have to stay here.”
I looked at him blankly. Of course I was going to stay here, I was a prisoner. I had nowhere else to go and I knew that trying to escape would be futile. They would hunt me down and probably throw me to the wolves.
Literally.
“Whatever happens, whatever you are told or offered.”Eirian continued. “I need you to promise that you will not leave us. No escape, no thoughts of going home or to your family. When this is over and you are claimed , I will take you to visit or make arrangements-”
"Eirian."Ty groaned. “You can't make her swear to things she doesn't understand. It had to be her choice.”
I agreed wholeheartedly. “I agree.” I said anyway. Because really what else could I do. I was stuck here, and my brother was alone. My father would not be able to provide for him and neither could my elderly neighbour. I was all he had ever had and -
“I want your promise or i swear to the goddess-” Eirian growled. “I will make sure he starves.”
The blood drained from my face. This was a totally different side to the Eirian who had taken me from my home.
This eirian was cruel.
On the other side of me Ty shook his head, mumbling something under his breath that I didn't understand.
For several seconds I tilted my head back and stared at Eirian. It wasn't an idle threat either , there was pure conviction in his eyes.
“You have my word.” I said finally. “I will not run, I will not try to escape. I will do as I'm told and stay with you for as long as my brother is safe.”
Towering over me, Eirian's eyes narrowed into slits. “You dare-”
I straightened my shoulders. “Yes I dare.” I didn't know where this new found bravery was coming from but it really didn't matter. If he wanted my vow then I wanted his as well. “If something happens to my brother then all deals are off. Now is there a way-”
He moved before I could even finish talking. Curling his arm around my waist he lifted me into his body hard enough that the air left my lungs in a whoosh.
His lips crashed down on mine.
It wasn't a nice kiss, it wasn't even passionate. His mouth was like solid rock against mine as he parted my lips with his. So he could have full access to my tongue.
“Eirian.” Ty groaned from behind me. “Not here.”
It might have been my imagination but I was sure I heard longing in his voice. Did he want to be kissing me like this as well?
“I will tae you vow and-” eirrian mumbled against my lips but didn't let me go. Instead he bit down with teeth that were much longer and sharper than a human's and pieced my bottom lip.
A sharp pain spirallyed through me, weakly I beat at his chest.but i might as well have been hitting a statue for all the good it did me.
Against me Eirian's body was getting harder and harder, as he continued to suck the blood from the bite mark he had made. Big hands roved down my body and then back up, yanking my dress up with it. The cold winter chill drifted across my legs.
Around us silence fell.
But they were all watching. Watching and doing nothing as Eirian exposed my knees. He was like a man possessed.
“Please-” I tried to say but it was impossible because his tongue delved into my mouth to silence me.
“Enough.”Ty roared.
Suddenly Eirrian was ripped away from me and thrown to the floor. Ty stepped in front of me protectively.his shoulders shaking with the growls that tumbled from his lips. From the floor Eirian growled right back.
The sound made the hairs on the back of my neck lift. Were they going to fight?
“You dare-” Eiriran's voice shook with anger.
Ty didn't flinch. “Yes I dare.” He didn't look back at me. “Sloane, go to your room please the party is over.”
I didn't need telling twice, gathering up my long skirts I ran and the crowd parted for me. I had just reached the wide double doors when the sound of wild animals fighting hit my ears.
They were fighting over me, and I didn't know why. I didn't understand a damn thing that was happening to me.
Something sticky and hot dripped from my chin and my hand went to my torn open lip. Ok I did understand one thing.
Eirian was not the nice brother. In fact I was beginning to suspect he was the worst of them all.
Not looking back to see who was winning the fight I sprinted towards the stairs and the sanctuary of my room.