Lycan Queen's Prey Chapter 44

~Zirah~

My eyes snap open, shooting through the veil of sleep to take in the room cloaked in impenetrable

darkness. My heart pounds like a drum, its beat so loud that I can't hear my own thoughts. The

anxiety is palpable, a heavy weight settles in the pit of my stomach.

The only other sound piercing the silence is a low, mournful whine escaping from Gnash, sitting up,

I look for him to find the huge white wolf sprawled out on the chilly balcony, his head propped on

his front paws as he stares at the moon. I can't help but wonder if he's resonating with the potent

swirl of guilt and regret churning inside me for Regan or if he just misses his owner.

Hastily, I push the thought away, forcing my body out of bed to check on him, only when I do I

notice Zeke is not beside me. Grabbing the sheet, I wrap it around my naked body. Moving toward

the balcony door I spot Hunter and Shadow watching him with worry. They instantly move as I

wander over to Gnash, stepping aside and giving me room to kneel next to him.

"Gnash,"” my voice floats into the night, barely more than a whispered plea. My fingers meander

through his dense fur, searching for some form of recognition, but he seems detached, his gaze lost

in the vast expanse of darkness. It's a palpable unease that sends shivers down my spine. Something

is amiss and I grab his huge furry head forcing him to look at me.

His tongue flicks out, licking up the side of my cheek before he puffs out a breath pulling away from

me to return to staring into the night. "Are you alright, boy?" I ask him but he just whines loudly the

sound tearing me apart he sounds like he is grieving. Hunter edges closer and I step back as the

wolf lays at his side, resting his head on Gnash's back.

With a heavy sigh, I step over the both of them, my fingers grazing through Shadow's fur as I move

back to the sliding door. However, when I open it, I can hear muted murmuring of voices seeping

from somewhere within the room which distracts me.

"Sleeping," I hear Zeke say. My brow pinch as I wonder who he's talking to.

I slip through the slightly open door, my eyes locking onto Zeke's figure standing just outside the

bedroom on the landing. He's caught in a sliver of soft moonlight that turns him into a spectral

silhouette from the huge skylights. His voice, hushed yet permeates with an urgency, as it reaches

me. Moving toward the door which is slightly ajar. Peeking out I can see he is on the phone with

someone.

"Damn it... that means he waited till we were gone... we'll head back to the castle and meet him

there..." he mutters into the phone, followed by a brief pause. "Wait, you're coming here?" he asks

while I try to figure out what is going on. Pulling the door open slightly, it creaks.

Suddenly, he spins around, his intense gaze pinning me like a deer caught in the headlights. My

throat tightens, a wave of guilt washing over me for eavesdropping. Zeke smiles, and motions with

his hand to come to him.

"She just woke up,” he says into the phone.

"Who's that?" I mouth to him and he places the phone on speaker. I find it is Lyon. Zeke presses his

lips to my temple while Lyon continues to talk. “I'm almost to your kingdom, I am only about an

hour and half out if that," he says.

"Rightio, I will see you soon,” Zeke states before cutting the call and slipping it back into his pocket.

A playful smirk creeps onto his face as his eyes lazily scan my body while his finger toys with the

sheet, trying to pull it loose. Instinctively, I clutch the sheet tighter around me, trying to ignore the

butterflies swarming in my belly. "Is everything alright?" I ask Zeke.

"It will be, Regan will handle it," Zeke assures me and I chew my lip. "You're hiding something,” Zeke

sighs heavily and he cups my face in his hands. His lips gently brush mine. "The vampire king took

Malachi, and Regan believe my father is injured,”

"We should go, we should check on the castle and people in the city.” I tell him, moving toward the

door to get dressed. Zeke's arm wraps around my waist and he pulls me back. "Regan will handle it,

Lyon is on his way here," Zeke tells me but that doesn't make my unease settle.

I shake my head, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. "No, we need to help

Regan and your father,” I argue, tugging away from him. "I can't just sit here and do nothing." I feel

like 1 am caught in the midst of a storm, my mind whirling with thoughts and questions. "But what

about Malachi? We can't just leave him there,” I plead, turning around to face Zeke. He looks at me

with gentle eyes, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I know, Zirah. And we won't leave him there. But we need to be smart about this, and not just rush

in blindly," he says, his voice low and soothing. "If Regan said to wait here, that is what we'll do, he

knows what he's doing, and he has dealt with this sort of situation before. The vampire king is

known for such tactics when he is trying to get what he wants.”

"But this time is different, and he is doing this as revenge for his son being killed, not over treaty

arrangements.” Zeke presses his lips in a line. "He also knows killing Malachi will start a war. Let

Regan handle it. Until he says we don't leave here," he tells me. I don't like it, but I am also not used

to the sort of royal games, and clearly this is something they've dealt with before, so I nod, trusting

that he's right.

"Regan can handle it... I promise,” he says nonchalantly, sauntering closer, his arm snaking around

my waist as he pulls me flush against him. His fingers start tracing intricate patterns on the sheet, his

proximity making my heart thump wildly.

"But--" I start, only to be cut off by his comforting hold on my face. "And Regan?" He speaks,

confirming my worst fears, "Yes, Regan will meet us here once he knows what's going on.”

Regret and guilt flood through me. All of a sudden, he lifts me, a mischievous grin illuminating his

face. "But until then, you're all mine,” he murmurs against my lips before sucking the bottom one

into his mouth. "And I know you'll be wanting to make it up to Regan, so that means I better get in

quick,” he chuckles.

"You truly are a glutton," I quip, barely stifling a laugh. “I don't mind sharing, but I also don't want

to," he chuckles as he tosses me back on the bed; he then crawls onto the bed, pulling the sheet

away as he moves to hover over me.