CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

Esme buried her face in her hands and wrapped her arms around her body tighter.

How had she found herself here? A few days ago she had been preparing herself to see her sister marry her fiancé. How had things gotten so wrong?

Now here she was, chained to a monster who wanted to humiliate her in the slowest and most painful way possible.

But it didn’t feel like humiliation when you were in his arms now, did it? A slimy voice in her mind taunted.

No, Esme buried her head further in her arms hoping to block out the voice but it was persistent.

Against her will, she could still feel the ghost of his lips touching hers, claiming her in a way that Michael’s kiss never had.

It was pathetic the way her heart had leaped at his touch. How could she feel such a way about the man who had killed her father in cold blood and held her mother and sister hostage?

She was a fool.

Angrily, she jerked up, putting on her clothes, unmindful of just how far she’d run in her haste to be as far away from the lycan king as possible.

It wasn’t until she heard a low, rumbling growl right from just behind her that her mind returned to earth with a vengeance and she turned slowly to see glowing, red eyes fixated on her.

A rogue!

Esme had never met one before, but she’d heard stories. They were dangerous, demented creatures that always hunted in packs.

Slowly, she moved back, trying to control her heart beat but she was failing miserably. If one was this close, that means others were not far.

And true to form, another growl sounded from her right, then another and another… and Esme panicked.

Throwing everything she’d ever learned about dealing with wild creatures, she turned her back and ran for the hills.

Behind her, the rogues gave chase, growling and snapping yellowed fangs.

Esme screamed, running through the woods. Hoping with every breath in her body that anyone from the lycan party would hear her.

Esme was fast but she wasn’t fast enough. She was running on two legs, the rogues had four.

In almost an instant, one barreled into Esme’s back, sending her flying through the air until she landed face first, eating dirt and grass.

She howled, feeling her ankle twist from under her.

Esme tried to crawl, do something but her body refused to move.

There was nothing she could do now but wait for her death. A tear slipped from her eyes unbidden. Was this how the journey would end for her?

The rogues circled her, tightening the circle around her, obviously playing with their prey but Esme didn't have the strength or will to run anymore.

She closed her eyes, unable to watch.

One lunged.

But before he could reach her, a dark mass suddenly slammed into him, knocking him sideways into a tree.

A ferocious growl shook the whole damn forest so hard, the trees trembled and the animals burrowed further into the ground for safety.

The rogues ignored Esme now and turned to face this new foe. But they were no match for the lycans. They stood tall like mountains and unshakable like boulders.

The rogues attacked with all they had but the fight was over before it even began.

Esme, who had dragged herself off to the nearest tree to sit and wait, was relieved when one of the lycans, in human form, came to check on her.

His eyes were gentle as they moved all over her body, checking for injuries.

“How’re you feeling? Are you hurt?”

Esme flinched when he probed her ankles. “You won’t be able to walk with that ankle. I’ll have to carry you.”

But before he could even touch her, another growl sounded, this time much closer.

Esme looked up in surprise to see the lycan king glaring at them.

“My king,” the male stammered, “I was just…”

“You may leave, Dorian. I’ll take her.”

His voice brooked no argument and Dorian instantly stood and went away.

But Esme had something to say about his last statement.

“I don’t want to go with you.” She jutted her chin, even though her eyes burned from the pain from her ankle and the scrapes she had gotten from when she’d fallen.

The king’s lips thinned. “You don’t have a choice.”

Swiftly, he swept her up in his arms and walked back to camp. The silence lingered between them, none saying a word to the other.

Esme was seething, how had she suddenly found herself in his arms again?

She loathed it. She loathed him!

She hated the tingles that erupted whenever they touched. She eyed his chest mutinously. Didn't he own any shirts?

But the chest was so well defined, it would be a shame if those were covered up…

Estes’s small hands fisted, her body growing stiffer. It was the matebond thinking those thoughts. It had to be.

“We’re here.” The king said and dumped her in a tent where a nice brazier was already going strong. “I’ll get the healer.”

Almost immediately, he was back with an older lycan, watching from the shadows.

The older lycan smiled at her, his eyes crinkling as he gingerly swung Esme’s feet from left to right.

“Luckily for you, it’s just a sprain. You should be right as rain in a few days time.”

“A few days' time?”

“Yes, your majesty. Werewolves heal slower than lycans, so it’ll take longer for her to heal. But she's young so she’s good to go.”

After setting her foot and rubbing salves into the bruises on her arms, the healer packed up his bag and left.

The fires crackled while Esme looked down. Why was he staring at her? She could feel his eyes boring into the side of her head.

“Get some sleep. We ride early.” He said only before straightening up and leaving without another word.

Esme turned to the fire.

****

It was barely dawn when they started riding the last few miles to the mountains.

Esme was encased like last time in the king’s arms, except this time she was sitting sideways, her leg in an angle where it wouldn’t hurt her ankle much while riding.

“Relax, Esme, if you hold your body any stiffer, you’ll poke the horse.”

Esme didn't know whether he was laughing at her or not but the statement made her color flare. “Just ignore me.”

He looked down at her, before facing forward. “I wish I could but you’re spooking the horse and making the ride unbearable for both you and me.”

Esme tried to relax her body, not because of him but because she didn’t want the poor animal to suffer just because his master was an asshat.

“How long until we get to base?”

“Not far now.”

Esme gritted her teeth. How was that an answer? She tried to focus her mind on other things but soon found herself feeling sleepy, partly by the horse’s steady gait and partly by the lycan king.

The harder the urge to lean against him came, the stiffer Esme became.

If she continued like this, she would become as stiff as a board before they got to the lycan kingdom.

A huff escaped the king's lips but he said nothing, instead joined in the ongoing conversation between his men.

Very soon, they reached the foot of the mountain and had to dismount from their horse. The horses were returned back to a small village situated at the base while the lycans trekked up the mountain. Some in their shifted form, some human.

Esme was surprised when the lycan king refused to shift, instead carrying her in his arms as he walked.

He caught it. “Lycans are a lot stronger than you think, little one. Remember that.”

Esme flushed. Who was he calling little?

But she remained silent, until they got to the snow covered top where two majestic gates were opened, like the yawning of a dragon’s mouth.

As they walked in, people flocked about their king, touching him, welcoming him, some gave her curious glances.

Gently, the king put her down. “Can you stand?” His voice was soft.

Esme didn't like when he was gentle. It made her brains turn to mush.

“Yes.” Her reply was terse.

He watched as if seeing through her lie but his attention was distracted when suddenly the crowd parted and a blonde, willowy female threw herself in his arms and kissed him full on the lips.