Unwanted Mate Of The Lycan Kings (by jessica hall)

Lycan Queen's Prey Chapter 37

~Zirah~

As the limo draws to a halt, the sight of Zeke's castle leaves me awestruck. It's a grand spectacle of

towering spires and shimmering turrets laced with ornate gold filigree. The main castle doors swing

open, and we're immediately in the thick of an atmosphere so intense, it's nearly tangible. The castle

bustles with life and activity. People line up for warm meals, medical care, and a place to sleep. The

grandeur of the exterior belies the harsh reality within, and I feel an unexpected pang of amazement for

Zeke.

We walk through the castle, each room telling the lengths he has gone to try to support his kingdom.

What should have been a ballroom, a banquet hall, and a library is repurposed into shelters, soup

kitchens, and makeshift clinics. The crystal chandeliers now cast their light on rows of cots where

homeless citizens seek shelter. The grand fireplaces serve as heating for rooms crammed with

individuals in various states of despair. "You turned this place into a homeless shelter?" I ask, a little

shocked.

"No, but yes, in a sense. I have to be limited with who I have here, so I only take families with children.

I can't house all of them, so I choose the most vulnerable or at risk on the streets. We rotate them out

once they find permanent housing or jobs.

Unfortunately, this last lot has been here for six months, and there are no houses left, even with

subsidized rents. The city is at full capacity. I tried to purchase more land, but my city's debt risk

outweighs its lending ability." I let his words sink in. Having to pick and choose, I can not fathom how

hard that would be. How saddening it would be to turn people away.

Finally, Zeke leads me up a grand staircase to a set of double doors at the end of a long hallway. As we

enter, the contrast is stark. This room is pure luxury - his bedroom.

"You may have the bed," Zeke says. "I'll take the couch. If that will make you more comfortable being

here with me." I chew my lip and nod. Zeke places his hand on my lower back, leading me to the other

side of the room to a door. He pushes it open, revealing a huge bathroom. "I'll grab some towels. It

seems I've been cleaned out," he laughs softly.

My mind is a whirl of conflicting emotions as Zeke retreats to fetch me a towel. I peel off my clothes and

step into the ensuite. As I'm about to step into the shower, Zeke re-enters, his eyes drawn to the

intricate network of runes decorating my body. His gaze is curious, not lecherous, and I feel a blush

creep up my neck nonetheless.

Before I can step in, Zeke steps forward, brushing up against me just as I move to do the same. We

bump into each other, doing an awkward sidestep before he cuts me off again and chuckles. His hand

grips my shoulder softly before reaching past me to hang a towel on the rack behind us.

"Sorry," he murmurs, while his fingers linger for just a second longer than necessary. The heat of his

body and the roughness of his callused hands sends shivers down my spine that cause goosebumps

all over my skin, hungrily inviting Zeke's touch even further, if only fleetingly so.

His eyes travel to the runes down my arms, fingers gently trailing, before moving to the ones on my

chest; his fingers skimming my skin make me shiver, and his eyes dart to mine at the action, a hint of a

smile on his lips.

“Seems I can draw at least some reaction out of you." I raise an eyebrow at him. He shrugs. His eyes

move back to the runes, brows creasing. "Did these hurt when you..." he trails off.

"Burned alive?" I laugh. He swallows and glances away, nodding once.

"No, Zeke. I don't remember these or much of my death and rebirth," I tell him. He lets out a breath, his

fingertips dancing along my collarbone.

“These runes...” Zeke trails off, stepping closer, his fingers lightly tracing the Eye Rune below my

throat. “What do they mean, exactly?”

"Shouldn't you know? I would have thought you studied witchcraft, folklore, etcetera, given the curse."

“We did study witchcraft,” he admits.

“We all did. Regan was...obsessed. He wanted to break the curse. But all this stuff, it made little sense

to me. Symbols, chants, ceremonies. I could get us cursed, but still, witchcraft was beyond me.” His

words hang heavy in the room, a ghostly echo of a past long gone, a past that impacted his entire

future. His fingers stop at the hollow of my throat.

"What do you think these mean to you? Why these ones?" he asks, and I can hear the curiosity in his

voice. I should be more nervous than I am standing naked in front of a man who, on many occasions,

threatened to rape and kill me, yet he suddenly doesn't seem so intimidating. He almost seems

vulnerable.

“Well, the Eye Rune stands for perception, vision,” I explain, my voice a whisper. “It sees beyond the

visible world.”

His fingers trail lower, between my breasts, to the Star Rune.

“And this one?”

“Star Rune symbolizes hope and guidance. The Waves Rune here,” I guide his fingers lower, “Is for

emotions, intuition. The Air Rune stands for intellect and communication. Fire and Earth symbolize

energy and physical endurance.”

His hand hovers over the Moon Rune just above my navel. “And this?”

“Fertility, femininity,” I answer. “The Sun Rune here is for masculine power, courage. And...” I hesitate

as his fingers brush over the last rune on my pubic bone. I feel my breath hitch as a shiver runs down

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Zeke lifts an eyebrow, waiting. “And this?”

"Unity, connection, partnership," I whisper, averting my eyes from his heated gaze.

His hand stills on the Rune, tracing it lightly, etching its meaning into the depths of my mind.

“Unity," he echoes, his voice a low rumble that sends a tantalizing shiver up my spine. He leans closer,

his breath hot against my ear.

"An enticing idea, don't you think?"