“Positive,” I whisper, disposing of the stick before going ahead to wash my hands. “I’m pregnant. I’m not supposed to be pregnant. How can I be? Sia and I didn’t use protection, but a wolf can’t beget a lycan’s child. Oh Mila, say something!”
“My congratulations are in order, my lady.”
“Congratulations? Mila, this is not good news. Me being pregnant is a disaster!”
She frowned. “I’m afraid I don’t understand, my lady.”
“Mila, I don’t want to be a mother,” I say, sobbing. “I don’t want to bear children. Not now, not ever.”
“Oh dear, don’t say that.”
“But it’s the truth, Mila. Plus, I’m too young to be a mother.”
“If you think you’re too young to be a mother, then you shouldn’t have had unprotected sex in the first place.”
“Mila!”
“What? I’m only putting in my two cents.”
“Well, nobody asked for your two cents,” I yell, breathing hard. Calming a bit, I say, “I’m sorry, Mila, but I’m not ready to accept the fact that I am pregnant. I mean, I am not supposed to be pregnant. Wolves can’t give lycans babies, Mila.”
“It’s possible that the heavens have blessed you with a child, my lady.”
“Well, you can go back and tell the heavens that I don’t want their blessing.”
“My lady, please don’t say that. This child is a blessing for all the kingdom. The Crown Prince had a child illegitimately, so his heir doesn’t count. Yours will, after you get married to the prince.”
“Slow down, Mila. I didn’t come here to be breeding heirs for the prince.”
“Then why are you here if not to give the kingdom an heir?”
I don’t even know the answer to that myself, but I don’t tell her that.
“Mila, I’ll answer your question after getting answers to mine. With that being said, may I know where I can find the library, if there be one?”
“The royal library is in the attic, my lady.”
I frown. “The attic? But why should a room full of knowledge be up in the attic?”
“The kingdom likes to protect its information, my lady.”
“Of course. Take me to the library, Mila.”
“I can’t, my lady. Servants are not allowed to go up to the attic, my lady. If caught, the punishment is death by hanging.”
My frown deepens. “Mila, you’re my friend.”
“But I am first your servant.”
I groan. “You know what, I’d just find someone else who would be willing to take me there.”
“I can take you there.”
Cocci.
He looks quite different. His eyes are no longer golden brown but black, and he has new lines on his face. Cold hard lines.
“What’s the catch?”
“You follow me to Ini’s place.”
That name doesn’t ring a bell. “Ini?”
“Do you want me to take you or not?”
“Um, I think I’ll pass,” especially now that he’s looking like a bomzee, or whatever those brain-eating monsters are called.
“You can’t pass, Crinka,” he bites out, blocking my path.
“Cocci, I don’t have time for this.”
“Neither do I. you’re coming with me, Crinka, and it’s not up for discussion.”
I try sidestepping him, but he latches onto my wrist, pulling me out of the South wing. I call for help, scratching at his hand, but no one comes to my aid. It’s like the palace has gone on lockdown because nobody’s in sight, not even the distasteful servants.
Suddenly, four guards appear out of nowhere, rushing towards Cocci and me. They seize hold of my arms, pulling me away from Cocci. As much as I appreciate their help, isn’t it high time they let go of me? The other two guards that aren’t holding me have seized Cocci, but he growled, thrashing in their hold. One whips out a syringe and without any remorse pierces Cocci’s skin, injecting the liquefied contents into his bloodstream. Cocci goes limp in their arms, and I scream as the guards propel me forward.
North wing. They’re taking me to the North wing.
I’m thrust forward into a room. Not expecting it, I fall on my knees, lifting my head. The room is the type you see in a hospital. A bed in the middle but no machines. Thjis is leaning against the wall while Avetha is sitting on a wooden chair.
The guards holding Cocci place him gently on the bed before standing on the side, awaiting dismissal.
“Both of you, chain her up.”
And it’s at this moment, I notice the chains by the wall. The guards advance towards me, and I back away, shaking like a leaf.
“Why? Why are you doing this?” I cry out, once I’m chained to the wall like a prisoner. Gosh! Even Mosle didn’t chain me up. The guards have left, and now it’s just me, Avetha, Thjis, and his son.
“I don’t need to explain anything to you, Crinka,” Thjis said.
“Of course, you do. You can’t chain me up for no just cause.”
“Crinka, Cocci is sick, and you might just be able to cure him,” Avetha offered.
“Cure him? Do I look like a healer to you?”
“No, no. Never heard of a healer with red hair. To cure Cocci, a female in heat is needed,” Thjis said.
“Sorry to burst your bubbles, but I am not in heat.”
“You will be once Avetha performs the spell.”
“I did not consent to this! I did not!” I protest loudly, but it’s too late. Avetha is already muttering some foreign words, and I’m consumed with need. But unlike last time, this need is intensified.
My sweat pores are slaving itself, and all I can think about is pleasure. Had I not been chained, I would have stroked myself to oblivion. Lifting my gaze, I look at Thjis, with hope he would come to me, and rid me of this pain.
The Icelander King’s eyes darken as he breathes in my scent. His canines lengthen, and talons, not claws, shoot out from his fingertips. He takes a step in my direction, but Avetha blocks his path, placing her hands on his chest.
“Thjis don’t. We talked about this. You’ve got to resist it.”
I’ve stopped looking at them, averting my gaze to the young prince. He is no longer unconscious but up on his feet, eyes as dark as night. He growled before approaching me. I might be downright horny, but I don’t want him touching me.
My eyes dart to Thjis and Avetha, and I’m shocked when I don’t see them anywhere. Surely, they’re not going to leave me with this monster?
He raises his hand, and I flinch, eyes down. I hear a loud growl, and it’s not from Cocci. I avert my gaze to the five-foot monster in the room with us. He’s incredibly large, and his fur is a deep violet, just like his eyes. Could it be? He said he couldn’t shift.
“Sycamore,” Cocci growled, stepping away from me.
The beast smirked, or did I just imagine it?
“Did you miss me?”
My eyes widen for two reasons. One, I’m no longer feeling horny. Two, did he just talk? Like actually speak?
“What the fuck do you want?”
“I want you to step the fuck back and leave.”
“I’m not leaving without her, Sycamore.”
The beast chuckled. My goddess, this can’t actually be happening!
“Do you want to die, boy?”
“No.”
“Then get the fuck out.”
Cocci scurried out of the room. Sycamore approaches me, and I slink back, scared. He smells like death.
“Please don’t kill me.”
“I haven’t had a werewolf snack in years, so no, I will kill you.”
“You would have to get in line for that, mister, given that you’re not the only one who wants me dead.”
He chuckled again. “I have been alive for a thousand years, and I can never, ever remember getting in line for anything or anyone, especially a woman.”
“Do you have anything against women? And wait, you’ve been alive for a thousand years? How’s that even possible?”
“Quiet! Your voice is annoying. Wolves, especially the females, shouldn’t be allowed on the lands. It’s about time I end you for good.”
“Fine, end me. But before you end me, can you please unchain me? I don’t enjoy being chained up.”
“I’d have to shift to do that, and I’m not quite in the mood to look human yet.”
“Because you’re not?”
“You’re smart. Now I see why Ini wants you.”
“Ini?” I ask, confused. That’s the second time I’m hearing that name. First from Cocci and now Sycamore.
“She’s someone you don’t want to know.”
“I’ll be the judge of that. Who is Ini, Sycamore?”
“You’re in no position to ask questions, especially now that you’re bound.”
“Unbind me, please? My arms are starting to hurt.”
He only stayed silent. “Can you please shift? I’d feel better talking to, um… a person.”
“I just happen to be a person who’s comfortable in his own skin.”
“Please.”
“Fine.”
I watch, amazed, as the beast transforms into him. It is Sia, but unlike the man whose touch ignites my skin, his eyes are a vivid purple, violet maybe, and his chest and arms are littered with tattoos. Plus, he’s naked. Dark veins outline his engorged cock, and I blush, my eyes traveling down. He’s more muscular and a bit taller.
Unashamed, he walks over to the bed, rips the bed sheets from the bed, and wraps it firmly around his waist, hiding a lot from my naked eyes.
“What did you do to Sia?”
“Nothing much.”
“You’re in his body. You obviously did something to him.”
“I did nothing to your boyfriend. And please stop thinking I’m his wolf, beast, lycan, or whatever you furry people call it. I’m my own species, and so is your boyfriend. Two different people, forced to cohabit in the same body,” he spat out, walking towards me. He grabbed hold of the chains and snapped them with ease. His eyes briefly met mine, and I stared at him, relishing the heat emanating from his body. Sia’s body, to be sincere.
“Any last words before I snap your neck?” he murmured, slender fingers tracing my collarbone.
I breathe in heavily. I can’t seem to concentrate. “Please don’t kill me.”
He smiled. “Give me five reasons why I shouldn’t kill you.”
“Is it okay for me to sum up the five reasons into one?”
“If you wish, but let it make sense. I’d hate to cut your tongue,” he murmured, glancing down at my lips.
“I’m… I’m pregnant. I’m carrying Sia’s child and a possible heir to the kingdom.”
He eyes me. “No lying there, but I don’t care. It ain’t mine.”
“But you are in his body, so indirectly, it’s yours.”
“No, it’s not. I’m an alpha trapped in a slave’s body. A hound forced to act like a lycan. Me and your lover are not the same.”
“My child is innocent, Sycamore,” I tell him as he kneels before me, yanking my shirt upwards.
“Does it look like I care?”
“Sycamore, please.”
“Don’t. I don’t want to hear my name from your lips. I need an heir, wolf, and you are going to give me one.”
“Kiss my ass.”
He laughed. “Sorry, but I’ll pass.”
“Sycamore, I’m not going to flush out Sia’s baby to accommodate yours.”
“You don’t need to. I just need to inject my venom into your bloodstream, and the child will be mine.”
Before I can contemplate his words, he sinks his fangs into my belly, and the world goes black.