Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall) novel Chapter 74

~~Zirah~~

The next vision I am shown, I find myself in King Theron’s chamber. The room is filled with tension as he stares down at his sons, Regan and Zeke, who were forced on their knees by two burly guards.

The flickering torchlight casts eerie shadows on the walls, making the scene even more sinister. “I have never questioned my family's loyalty more than I have over the last few days, first your mother tries to set them free, and then I hear from the guards and Lyon about you betraying me,” Theron began, his voice cold and emotionless when he turns his hard gaze on Regan.

“But right now, you have me questioning whether you’re even worthy of a place in my Kingdom let alone the fucking throne.” His eyes move to Zeke.

“But as my sons, I will offer you a chance to prove yourself.” Regan clenched his fists, his anger palpable as he glared at Lyon, who had his eyes downcast next to his father's throne.

Without warning, Theron placed a knife to Regan’s neck, his voice dripping with malice, making Lyon gasp, and Zeke looked at his father bewildered. “Choose, Zeke. Your brother’s life, or the baby’s, from information I’ve gathered from guards apparently you and Regan were overheard fighting over Litha’s spawn?” Zeke hesitated for a moment, glancing at Regan, who swallowed hard.

“Why should I care about a baby?” Zeke replied, but it was obvious to me he was trying to mask his concern, or maybe trying not to draw his father’s attention to me being his mate. Mate, as that word comes to mind, it burns my soul.

“That’s not an answer, Zeke?” Theron snarls, sliding the knife down Regan’s chest. Regan growls, but holds still and I can see the fury in his eyes as his father carves a line, blood gushing and spilling on the floor.

“Of course, I choose my brother. Blood is thicker than water.” Theron’s eyes narrowed, gauging Zeke’s reaction.

“Is that so? Well, in that case, Regan, it’s time for you to choose where your loyalty lies.” Zeke glanced at Regan, who clenches his teeth.

“Kill the baby and the old hag,” Theron ordered. Zeke went to get up, but his father’s eyes cut to him. “You don’t. You are both banished from the kingdom. Bring me their bodies when you’re done.”

“Father…” Lyon stumbles forward, looking at his brothers in alarm when Theron turns on him. “Would you like to share a cell with your mother Lyon? Are you planning to disobey me, too?”

“I’ve done what you asked of me!” Lyon snarls.

“Yes, you have, but at what cost? You still betrayed your family. You betrayed your brothers by coming to me.” Lyon guiltily looks away and Theron turns his attention to his sons. “So what will it be Regan?” Theron demands, turning back to Regan. Regan nods once and Theron nods to the guard holding him. Regan then stands, turns on his heel, walking out the doors while Theron smiles cruelly.

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The next vision twists and warps and materializing around me. And I find myself once again forced to follow Regan. He goes to the dungeons, and I feel sick watching all this play out. So much heartache and betrayal; and as I come to learn in this one, all for nothing, so many lives lost in a war over the selfishness of one man, one mans infidelity, King Theron.

There, in the cell beside his mother, was Litha. She stood under the bars of the window, gazing out at the moon, her eyes closed as the moon lit up her face, my grandmother sobbed beside her, shaking her head and clutching me. “What’s done is done,” Litha tells her mother. “You don’t need to do this, there is another way,”

“No, mother there is no other way. I’ve seen it,” Litha tells her.

“Seen what?” Regan demands and his eyes go to his mother in the cell beside Litha. “Fate!” Litha spoke clearly, coldly at the moon. Upon seeing Adira, Regan froze in place, seemingly shocked by the state his mother was in.

“Regan,” his mother said, her voice weak and scared. “You must help them. Your father is planning to kill them.” Regan says nothing. However, his eyes go to Litha in the cell beside his mother when Adira gasps.

“He sent you to do it...” Adira shakes her head, and Regan clenches his jaw. Yet as the vision plays out, I come to learn the true extent of Theron’s cruelty.

Queen Adira could not bear the thought of Litha’s fate and tried to save her, but King Theron stubbornly refused to admit his lies, so he locked his wife up.

Queen Adira explained to Regan that the only thing Litha was guilty of was admitting one of her coven witches was having an affair with King Theron and was plotting to kill her. His infidelity, and her desire for a divorce set everything in motion. This was not over some war between families, but his father's inability to accept responsibility.

“If you kill the Oracle and the baby, you will be no better than your father. Don’t kill your mate. Is that regret you can live with?” Adira states.

“You know?” Regan asks.