The Ruthless Lycan King Fell For His Slave Mate novel Chapter 44

As far as Julian was concerned, the engagement ceremony had been a total failure. He had not gotten what he had wanted from it, contrary to what his guests might think. Instead, annoyingly, he had gotten a fiancée.

That had not been part of his plan. If his plan had worked, Alpha Black would be grovelling in the royal dungeon at this point of the night, and the entire Blacksword pack would be at Julian’s mercy. But as it turned out, Alpha Black was playing his cards close to his chest, careful enough to not take one step wrong where Julian could catch him.

Julian wondered whether the other male knew that he was investigating him. He had expected to get the final piece of information that would expose Alpha Black’s scheming during the ceremony, but that hadn’t happened.

Now here he was, saying goodbye to important guests with Crystal glued to his side. A lot was said, but he could barely hear it–not that it mattered. It was all inflated words of praise from elites who wanted his favour. Crystal seemed to be carrying on the conversations well enough. Even if he did not necessarily want her to be his queen, he could admit that she would be good at it.

While Crystal and some couple discussed a future hunt event, Julian’s eyes wandered to where Lyra stood. She was alert as ever, her eyes scanning the thinning crowd. Coincidentally, she looked at him then, their eyes meeting.

She did not look away immediately, and he could swear he could see the hurt in her eyes across the distance. But she looked away just as casually, as if she felt nothing. She did not have to show it, though. He knew how she felt. They were mates, after all, and they were connected in ways that could not be put into words.

She must hate him. But no matter what, he had to do this for the sake of the pack. He was the Lycan King. He had to look at the bigger picture.

“Does that have anything to do with why you were burning with jealousy when you saw her with her former mate?” his wolf Yuri asked.

Julian gritted his teeth together. So yes, he could not stand to see her being close to another male. She belonged to him, dammit. He just…he just…

He frowned as he saw Lyra walk towards the exit of the hall. Where was she going? She was supposed to be in his vicinity at all times. Through mindlink, he asked Asher where she was going. Shortly after, Asher let him know that Lyra had gotten permission from the Captain of the King’s Guard to leave early.

“Get her back,” Julian ordered immediately.

He knew how she felt about him at that moment. When she had left his room earlier, she had an inscrutable expression that left him more than a little frustrated. She did not exhibit any of the reaction he expected. Instead, she had looked done. With him.

He could not put it past her to try and leave the palace to get away from him. Even if she was ready to give up everything, he could not let her go. She was still his only protection against his curse.

A few minutes later, she appeared in front of him. “Did you need me, Your Majesty?”

“You are not allowed to leave my sight tonight,” he told her.

Something flashed in Lyra’s eyes. If they had been alone, he was certain she would have told him off. Or, maybe not. Besides that moment of defiance, there was a new iciness in her eyes that he had never seen there before.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she said. Quietly, she stepped to the side.

A while later, after every important guest had left, Crystal walked up to him and put her arms around his neck, pressing her body to his. “I’m so wiped, want to go to bed?”

In the corner of his eyes, Julian caught Lyra looking at them. He swallowed and nodded at Crystal. “Sure.”

Crystal leaned in and pressed a kiss to his mouth before taking his hand and leading him towards the stairs. Lyra was a few steps behind. When Julian and Crystal went into his suite, Lyra remained outside the door.

Inside, Julian released Crystal’s hand and began undoing his tie. Crystal pushed his hands away and started doing it for him.

“The ceremony was so beautiful,” she told him, flattering her lashes at him. “Thank you.”

Why was she thanking him? It was all Thea’s work. He could not give a rat’s ass what went where, or what Crystal liked for that matter.

Crystal pulled off his tie and threw it to the bed. Then, she started unbuttoning his shirt, her movements slow. When it was wide open, she pressed her palms to his bare chest and leaned in to press a kiss to his throat. “You must be so tired. Let me make you feel better.”

While saying that, she moved one hand to his crotch and rubbed him through his pants. An ache that had flashed through his chest the previous night at the Blacksword pack reappeared. He knew its source–Lyra, right outside his door. And now, he could not get rid of the image of her hurt look from his mind.

Crystal pushed him to take a seat on the bed. Then, she unzipped her gown and let it fall to the floor. She was only wearing a flimsy pair of panties underneath, and she gave him a flirtatious look as she slid them down her thigh.

Crystal was a total knockout, her beautiful face going hand in hand with a gorgeous body. She had curves he wanted to get lost in, soft skin he wanted to feel rubbing against him, and a pussy that felt like heaven.

She was all his for the taking, and yet he said, “You should go to your room.”