Vanished Sisters The Lycan King's Slave Island novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Matilda’s POV

EARLIER

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The third floor stone corridor of Ashclaw Castle felt colder than usual tought I persed in the shadow just ate herpes study, hand

pressed against the rough blackstone wall, the other cradling the heavy wall of my badly.

Below us, the feast roared on Laughter, shouting. The wet sound of flesh tearing from be. Through the thick walls, I could heat tabestat voice rising above the rest.

My mate stood behind me, his breath warm against my car. “Tilda, Gareth voice was low, srgend. His ver

I know.”

“It’s wrong. Like a storm about to break. You shouldn’t-

“He summoned me. I turned, cutting him off with a look. “When a lord calls for his wet nurse, you don’t refuses, You know that

Gareth was a good male, Strong, Loyal.

“That’s exactly why I need to answer his call. I kept my voice steady, though my breasts ached with a sharp, pulling sensation that made me want to whimper. Stay here. Unless you hear bones breaking, don’t come

His jaw clenched. His eyes-pale amber in the dim torchlight-dropped to my chest. Even through the thick gray wolf-fur doak I wore, the dampness was visible. Twin wet spots spreading across the fabric,

“You smell like…” He swallowed hard. Like prey, Sweet prey,”

I smell like what he needs.” I squeezed his wrist where it rested on his sword belt. “To a starving beast, yes, I’m dessert.”

Another roar of laughter from below, followed by a crash. Glass shattering More screams-definitely human this time.

Gareth’s nostrils flared. “Sebastian is making it worse.”

“Sebastian is always making it worse.” I released his wrist and turned back toward the study door. The iron wolf s-head knocker gleamed dully in the torchlight. “Guard the corridor. And Gareth?”

“Yes?”

“When this is over…” I paused, one hand on the cold metal. My voice dropped. “Hold me. Just… hold me. The child inside won’t survive the birth. They never do. And I need to know that when it’s over, you’ll still be there.”

I didn’t wait to see his expression. I raised the knocker and let it fall.

The sound echoed through the corridor like a death knell.

For a long moment, there was only silence.

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19:30 Mon, Feb 16 G G.

Chapter 26

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Then came a sound from within-something between a growl and a breath The scrape of claws on stone. Heavy footsteps moving toward the

door, then away, then back again. Like a caged animal pacing.

I could feel Gareth’s tension radiating from behind me.

“My lord,” I called through the door, keeping my voice low and steady. “It’s Matilda. You sent for me.”

Another pause. Then:

“I shouldn’t have.” His voice was wrong. Grit and metal and something that sounded like it was being dragged over broken glass. “Changed my mind. Go away.”

‘You know I can’t do that.”

Tilda-

“You summoned your wet nurse, my lord. I’m here. And from the sound of your voice, you need what I brought.”

A long, tense silence.

I placed my palm flat against the door. The wood was warm. “Let me in, Fergus.”

More footsteps. Closer this time. I could sense him just on the other side of the door-could almost feel the heat of him through the wood.

…Come in. The words came out rough, reluctant.

I pushed the door open.

The study was dark. No candles lit, no lamps burning. Only the faint red gow from the dying fire in the massive hearth across the room. It cast everything in shades of blood and shadow.

Fergus stood by the window, his back to me. Shirtless. The massive map of old scars that covered his back looked like continents drawn in violence-each one a story of survival, of battles fought when the world was younger and crueler than it already was.

His shoulders were tense, muscles coiled tight. His hands gripped the ston windowsill hard enough that I could hear the granite cracking

under his claws.

He didn’t turn around. “You look terrible, Tilda. Like a seal that’s swallowe too many fish for winter.”

Despite everything, I almost smiled. “If you’d sent for me earlier, I wouldnt have had to drag this body up three flights of stairs.”

“I kept hoping I wouldn’t need to.” His voice was tight. “Kept thinking I could handle it. That I could just… breathe through it.”

“But you couldn’t. I moved into the room, my steps slow and careful. My Back ached. My breasts throbbed with each heartbeat. The babe inside me kicked-a futile, doomed movement. “I could smell you from the third landing.”

He turned then.

His eyes hit me like a physical blow. One crimson, one amber-both blazing with an internal fire that had nothing to do with the hearth. His pupils were too wide. Too predatory. The veins in his neck stood out like cords under his pale skin.

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