Auctioned to the Cruel King - Chapter 10: Chapter 10
You are reading Auctioned to the Cruel King, Chapter 10: Chapter 10. Read more chapters of Auctioned to the Cruel King.
Lance's POV
The moment her scent reached me, my muscles tensed. Every fiber in my being reacted to her presence…an unwanted, infuriating response I couldn't control. I’m doomed.
"Alpha?”
I didn't acknowledge her. Instead, I walked into her room.
Once inside, I waited. When she finally stepped through the doorway, my hand found her throat, and her back met the door. "Where have you been?" My voice was low, controlled, yet laced with unmistakable anger.
She released a startled gasp. Her pulse fluttered beneath my fingers like a trapped bird. Amusing, how fragile wolves were. How fragile she was, yet she went against my order.
"I asked you a question." I lifted her slightly, just enough that she had to stand on her toes. "When I summon you, you come. Immediately."
"I... I was—"
I pressed her further into the door, my face inches from hers. Gods! I’d searched everywhere for her. But she just walked right back…
"My guards reported your absence. For hours. No one could find you." The thought of that momentary concern, that flicker of worry I'd experienced, fueled my anger. Shit this bond. "Do you think you can simply wander my territory unaccounted for?"
The smell of her fear bloomed in the air between us.
"No... I swear," she whispered.
My grip tightened. "So where have you been? With an accomplice?” I watched her eyes widen. There it was—guilt. "Planning your escape already?" Or was it to undermine me? It was no news. Some women sold at an auction are sometimes spies to carry on their master’s plan. I must have lost it… but I had let my guard down the moment that mate bond came to be.
Her lips quivered. "No, Alpha, I wouldn't—"
"Then tell me why you would go missing in my house for hours?" I stated coldly. "Where were you?”
“I-I’m not sure.” She’s persistent. “I followed you—someone, I-I think someone may have drugged me! I’m telling the truth!”
Now she was pushing too far.
“Listen to me,” I warned. “You’re here because of me. I paid for you. And while that is true, I can do with you whatever I so desire, which includes killing you. The contract is clear—two years, one child, then your freedom. Until then, you misstep, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
The old me would’ve done so by now.
She nodded frantically, the movement restricted by my grip. Something flickered in her eyes, desperation, possibly. Or deception.
Suddenly, my skin burned where it touched hers. The sensation crawled up my arm, into my chest, settling like molten lead in my core. The bond, that cursed, unwanted connection, flared in my veins.
Shit.
I released her abruptly, as if she'd scalded me. In a way, she had.
"Fuck," I muttered, turning away.
I strode to the window, shoving it open with more force than necessary. The cool night air did little to calm the storm brewing inside me. For days, I'd been restless. Unsettled. And it just happened to be getting worse.
Puff.
And her absence today had only intensified that unease.
I stared out at my pack, at the forests that stretched to the mountains marking our borders. Somewhere out there, enemies gathered. Threats loomed. And here I was, distracted by a wolf woman who might very well be a spy.
"You asked about our borders," I said without turning, my voice quiet now. "Why?"
Her heart rattled. "I was... curious," she offered weakly.
That made me snort. "Curious... Was that all?" Finally, I faced her again. She remained where I'd left her, pressed against the doorframe as if it might swallow her whole. "Let me be perfectly clear. I don't care what your reasons are. If you have questions, you ask me directly. Not my guards, not my servants. Me."
I approached her again, slowly this time. "Understood?”
Her scent shifted and that made my beast growl. I despised that response. He was clinging to her, lusting over her, would take her side, still I was being punished every night—
A knock at the door interrupted us. "Enter," I commanded, not taking my eyes from her.
The guard I had stationed for her stepped inside. His gaze flicked between us before settling on me with practiced neutrality.
"The physician has arrived, Alpha. He awaits you in your study."
I nodded.
"So what did you find?”
"She was found near the passage leading to the dungeons."
My eyes narrowed as I studied her face. "The dungeons?” Of all places.
"I’m not sure how I got there," she said quickly.
"Really?” I stepped closer. "There are people in those dungeons who once thought themselves clever. People who believed they could deceive me. Would you like to meet them?"
She swallowed hard, and I tracked the movement of her throat.
"No, Alpha."
"Good." I turned to the guard. "Leave her side again and I’ll have your head.”
He stiffened. "Yes, Alpha."
I moved to leave, then paused at the doorway. Without looking back, I added, "If you're plotting something, know this—I've faced far more formidable enemies than you. Whatever secrets you're hiding, I will uncover them. And when I do..."
I let the threat hang in the air between us. The guard knew well too.
The walk to my study did little to calm me. I blocked my senses like always, with few people within the palace, it was easy to avoid them as scents had revolted me, triggered pain and rage and irritation so intense I could barely contain my beast's bloodlust. Only Ashly's had been different. That ended badly. And now, hers. My jaw twitched. History seems to be mocking me.
The physician rose when I entered my study, offering a deep bow. "Alpha."
"What's this about requiring her blood?" I demanded without preamble.
"I believe I may have found a solution to your... condition," he replied carefully. "While we await the natural progression of the mating bond, I theorize that introducing a small amount of her blood into your potion might stabilize its effects."
I moved to the rear, looking out at the darkening sky. The potion, my lifeline to control, had been failing lately, and while that is much of a problem, the council has been circling like vultures too.
A growl built in my chest. Those conniving, power-hungry fools had grown bolder in their dissent, whispering about my instability, questioning my fitness to rule.
If they only knew what I was protecting them from. What dwelled within me.
"Explain," I ordered.
"Her scent already affects you differently than others," the physician said. "It stands to reason her blood might enhance the potion's efficacy. Just a drop would suffice for testing."
I turned, eyeing him coldly. "And if it makes things worse? If her blood turns out to be poison?"
"A calculated risk, Alpha. But one that might be necessary, given recent... episodes."
I’d tasted her blood that night. Might have lost it before then, but I had returned to my senses the moment her blood touched my tongue.
I settled on my chair, sighing.
Well. If nothing happens, there are still two years of her life here. Until then, I could just use her to my benefit. Once the guard return with the information of her true identity and life before the auction, I could—
A knock came at the door. "Alpha."
Speak of the devil.
The moment her scent reached me, my muscles tensed. Every fiber in my being reacted to her presence…an unwanted, infuriating response I couldn't control. I’m doomed.
"Alpha?”
I didn't acknowledge her. Instead, I walked into her room.
Once inside, I waited. When she finally stepped through the doorway, my hand found her throat, and her back met the door. "Where have you been?" My voice was low, controlled, yet laced with unmistakable anger.
She released a startled gasp. Her pulse fluttered beneath my fingers like a trapped bird. Amusing, how fragile wolves were. How fragile she was, yet she went against my order.
"I asked you a question." I lifted her slightly, just enough that she had to stand on her toes. "When I summon you, you come. Immediately."
"I... I was—"
I pressed her further into the door, my face inches from hers. Gods! I’d searched everywhere for her. But she just walked right back…
"My guards reported your absence. For hours. No one could find you." The thought of that momentary concern, that flicker of worry I'd experienced, fueled my anger. Shit this bond. "Do you think you can simply wander my territory unaccounted for?"
The smell of her fear bloomed in the air between us.
"No... I swear," she whispered.
My grip tightened. "So where have you been? With an accomplice?” I watched her eyes widen. There it was—guilt. "Planning your escape already?" Or was it to undermine me? It was no news. Some women sold at an auction are sometimes spies to carry on their master’s plan. I must have lost it… but I had let my guard down the moment that mate bond came to be.
Her lips quivered. "No, Alpha, I wouldn't—"
"Then tell me why you would go missing in my house for hours?" I stated coldly. "Where were you?”
“I-I’m not sure.” She’s persistent. “I followed you—someone, I-I think someone may have drugged me! I’m telling the truth!”
Now she was pushing too far.
“Listen to me,” I warned. “You’re here because of me. I paid for you. And while that is true, I can do with you whatever I so desire, which includes killing you. The contract is clear—two years, one child, then your freedom. Until then, you misstep, I won’t hesitate to kill you.”
The old me would’ve done so by now.
She nodded frantically, the movement restricted by my grip. Something flickered in her eyes, desperation, possibly. Or deception.
Suddenly, my skin burned where it touched hers. The sensation crawled up my arm, into my chest, settling like molten lead in my core. The bond, that cursed, unwanted connection, flared in my veins.
Shit.
I released her abruptly, as if she'd scalded me. In a way, she had.
"Fuck," I muttered, turning away.
I strode to the window, shoving it open with more force than necessary. The cool night air did little to calm the storm brewing inside me. For days, I'd been restless. Unsettled. And it just happened to be getting worse.
Puff.
And her absence today had only intensified that unease.
I stared out at my pack, at the forests that stretched to the mountains marking our borders. Somewhere out there, enemies gathered. Threats loomed. And here I was, distracted by a wolf woman who might very well be a spy.
"You asked about our borders," I said without turning, my voice quiet now. "Why?"
Her heart rattled. "I was... curious," she offered weakly.
That made me snort. "Curious... Was that all?" Finally, I faced her again. She remained where I'd left her, pressed against the doorframe as if it might swallow her whole. "Let me be perfectly clear. I don't care what your reasons are. If you have questions, you ask me directly. Not my guards, not my servants. Me."
I approached her again, slowly this time. "Understood?”
Her scent shifted and that made my beast growl. I despised that response. He was clinging to her, lusting over her, would take her side, still I was being punished every night—
A knock at the door interrupted us. "Enter," I commanded, not taking my eyes from her.
The guard I had stationed for her stepped inside. His gaze flicked between us before settling on me with practiced neutrality.
"The physician has arrived, Alpha. He awaits you in your study."
I nodded.
"So what did you find?”
"She was found near the passage leading to the dungeons."
My eyes narrowed as I studied her face. "The dungeons?” Of all places.
"I’m not sure how I got there," she said quickly.
"Really?” I stepped closer. "There are people in those dungeons who once thought themselves clever. People who believed they could deceive me. Would you like to meet them?"
She swallowed hard, and I tracked the movement of her throat.
"No, Alpha."
"Good." I turned to the guard. "Leave her side again and I’ll have your head.”
He stiffened. "Yes, Alpha."
I moved to leave, then paused at the doorway. Without looking back, I added, "If you're plotting something, know this—I've faced far more formidable enemies than you. Whatever secrets you're hiding, I will uncover them. And when I do..."
I let the threat hang in the air between us. The guard knew well too.
The walk to my study did little to calm me. I blocked my senses like always, with few people within the palace, it was easy to avoid them as scents had revolted me, triggered pain and rage and irritation so intense I could barely contain my beast's bloodlust. Only Ashly's had been different. That ended badly. And now, hers. My jaw twitched. History seems to be mocking me.
The physician rose when I entered my study, offering a deep bow. "Alpha."
"What's this about requiring her blood?" I demanded without preamble.
"I believe I may have found a solution to your... condition," he replied carefully. "While we await the natural progression of the mating bond, I theorize that introducing a small amount of her blood into your potion might stabilize its effects."
I moved to the rear, looking out at the darkening sky. The potion, my lifeline to control, had been failing lately, and while that is much of a problem, the council has been circling like vultures too.
A growl built in my chest. Those conniving, power-hungry fools had grown bolder in their dissent, whispering about my instability, questioning my fitness to rule.
If they only knew what I was protecting them from. What dwelled within me.
"Explain," I ordered.
"Her scent already affects you differently than others," the physician said. "It stands to reason her blood might enhance the potion's efficacy. Just a drop would suffice for testing."
I turned, eyeing him coldly. "And if it makes things worse? If her blood turns out to be poison?"
"A calculated risk, Alpha. But one that might be necessary, given recent... episodes."
I’d tasted her blood that night. Might have lost it before then, but I had returned to my senses the moment her blood touched my tongue.
I settled on my chair, sighing.
Well. If nothing happens, there are still two years of her life here. Until then, I could just use her to my benefit. Once the guard return with the information of her true identity and life before the auction, I could—
A knock came at the door. "Alpha."
Speak of the devil.
End of Auctioned to the Cruel King Chapter 10. Continue reading Chapter 11 or return to Auctioned to the Cruel King book page.