Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall) novel Chapter 70

Regan, still reeling from his actions, looks at me with newfound confusion and curiosity. The anger that had consumed him moments before has vanished, replaced by something I can’t decipher. I can feel the intensity of his stare as he tries to process what he’s seeing.

Regan’s confusion only grows, but before he can say anything, his father snarls, his gaze fixed on me. He believes I’m the witch who cursed his sons, and his anger is palpable. With blindingly fast movement, he steps toward me and roughly tears off the rest of my shirt, revealing the runes that run down my arms as well.

King Theron staggers back, his face twisted with hatred. “Witch,” he sneers, his eyes burning with hatred. He turns to the guards who had accompanied him into the basement. “Kill her!” he orders, his voice filled with venom and I gasp, my eyes desperately turning to Regan.

The guards, their expressions a mix of fear and determination, advance on me. My heart races, and I try to back away, but there’s nowhere to run. Just when I think my fate is sealed, Regan steps in front of me, blocking the guard's path, and Zeke rips me back against him, finally finding the strength to sit up.

“No one fucking touches her,” he growls, his voice booming loudly, the threat behind his words clear. Peering up at Regan, there’s a fire in his eyes, a fierce determination to protect me despite the confusion he’s feeling. Gnash also growls, dropping his head and baring his teeth, daring them to come closer.

The guards hesitated, glancing at one another uncertainly. They know that defying the king’s orders is treason, but they also know that crossing Regan would be a grave mistake. They’re caught between loyalty to their king and fear of Regan’s wrath.

King Theron’s face turns an ugly shade of red as he realizes Regan is defying him. “You would protect this... this witch?” he snarls, his voice dripping with venom.

Regan stands his ground, his eyes never leaving his father’s. “She’s not the one who cursed us, Father. And I won’t let you hurt her. Not like you did, Litha!”

As tension fills the room, I can’t help but feel a mixture of fear and gratitude toward Regan. He’s risking everything to protect me, even though he doesn’t fully understand the truth behind the runes that cover me.

The standoff between Regan and King Theron seems to last an eternity. The air is thick with tension and uncertainty. The guards shift uneasily, clearly unsure of how to proceed. They can sense that they're standing on a precipice, and one wrong move could tip the balance and send them all spiraling into chaos.

Regan refuses to back down, his jaw clenched and his eyes locked on his father's.

Zeke, still holding onto me, doesn't seem to care about the conflict around him, yet his grip on me never wavers.

The mysterious man who entered with King Theron, who had been silent until now, speaks up. "Your Majesty," he says cautiously, "Perhaps we should discuss this matter privately before making any rash decisions."

King Theron hesitates for a moment, and his eyes flick between Regan and the stranger. The tension in the room is palpable, but it's clear that Theron knows he needs to tread carefully. If he pushes Regan too far, he knows he won't be able to stop him from killing his guards.

Finally, Theron nods, his eyes narrowing. "Just like Litha, she has you brainwashed!" King Theron screams at his son. His face contorted with rage. The accusation hangs heavy in the air, and Regan's expression darkens further.

"She's a witch!" Theron screams at him.

"I don't care!"

"It's her kind that is responsible for the curse! And you dare go against me to defend one!"

"She's not responsible for the curse, Father. You are!" Regan booms, taking a threatening step forward. The guards surround the king and step back... Regan's words hang in the air, tension mounting when he speaks again.

"Isn't that right, Father?" My brows furrow, and I glance at Regan and then King Theron, who clenches his jaw.

"Is that why you hate witches, Father? Because they can see through your bullshit? Because Litha sold you out? That war was never a means of revenge on my grandfather. You wanted to shut her up!"

"You know nothing of what you speak of!" Theron snarls, taking a step forward. The stranger grips the King's shoulder, and so does Malachi beside him in a warning.

"Go on, tell them why you really killed King Edgar and Queen Litha... and your part in the curse. You condemn anyone who stands against you, including us. When this entire thing is your fault because you couldn't keep your dick in your fucking pants!" Regan yells at him.

"Tread carefully, son. You are taking this too far!" Theron snarls.

"And that still wouldn't be as far as you!" Regan spits at him. Regan reaches down, grabbing my arm. Zeke reluctantly lets me go. "Just remember, Father, we aren't the only ones cursed. There are seven sins, and we only make six..." Regan snarls. King Theron looks away, and his teeth clench while I try to remember the seven cardinal sins and which one is missing.

'Sloth'

It is selfish and self-pitying, as it involves not only a lack of effort but also a lack of care for others. And I know Sloth is closely related to pride, as it involves a lack of humility and refusal to accept responsibility.

I thought the three brothers all held that one together, and in some ways, they do, but after hearing Regan's words, it makes me wonder if King Theron is one of the sins along with his sons.

"Maybe instead of leaving Litha with all the blame, you should accept some of it yourself. She wasn't the one that made you fuck Shelley! All she did was catch you." Regan sneers and Zeke gasps.

Regan clutches me to him and offers his hand to Zeke, who hesitantly takes it. He pulls his brother to his feet while King Theron glares daggers at his son. Regan, however, is unfazed by his father's anger, even when King Theron steps into his path, his eyes on me. His hand moves toward my face when Zeke suddenly grips his father's wrist, and Regan tugs me behind him.

"You want her? You'll have to go through me." Regan growls.

"You think I won't?" Theron snarls at his son, standing chest-to-chest with him. Even still, Regan has a good foot height on him and more bulk.

"I know you won't. You've never been one to get your hands dirty, Sloth. That's what you have your sons for..." Regan sneers before barging past his father. Regan leads me toward the stairs, Zeke flanking my back and Gnash at my heels, peering over my shoulder as I climb the stairs. King Theron glares at me.

"She'll kill you all!" he yells after his sons, who ignore him. Yet my mind is reeling with everything that happened, and Zeke must be, too because he speaks the moment we step into the corridor.

“Is what you said about Shelley true?” Zeke questions. Regan ignores him and instead tugs me along, yet it explains why Regan seems to hate Shelley so much.

“Regan!” Zeke says, trying to keep up.

“I’m leaving, and I’m taking Zirah,” Regan tells him.

“Regan, wait…” Zeke calls, but Regan doesn’t. Instead, he scoops me up, crushing me to his chest and wrapping my legs around his waist. Zeke staggers through the corridor behind us, using the walls to help hold himself.

“Regan, you can’t leave him,” I murmur, and Regan growls.

“You seriously want me to help after what he did to you,” I couldn’t believe I was asking him to and using the same excuse they’d given me countless times.

“He’s your brother,” I answer. Regan grits his teeth and stops. “Fuck!” he curses, going to turn back when we hear a pained groan. Turning my head to look over my shoulder, I see Lyon stagger down the stairs. “What’s going on?” Lyon rasps, his clothes soaked, and he is covered in blood. Regan shakes his head.

“We’re leaving!” Regan informs them before going back and grabbing Zeke’s arm, then looking at me. “All of us…”