Auctioned to the Cruel King - Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Kayla’s pov
His words snatched my soul right from me. Heart stopped as I stood, unblinking like when I heard the news of my dead child.
“What?” All my nerves ran like they were set on fire. From the corner of my eyes I saw Vivian smirking in triumph.
That sight was enough to make my stomach bottomed. I quickly turned to the Lycan king despite the fear from just facing him. I curtsied like a proper court lady, “Alpha, I am——“
“Take your position.” He commanded in a refined voice, solid and sturdy as was his gaze.
I worked my throat to swallow the lump of terror that was stuck in my throat and I moved with sheer fear into the ring.
“Get our bride a fighting gear.” Vivian said in a lilting voice, once again I heard the humor in her voice. “Surely she can’t fight in those.”
My guard walked up to me and some female Lycans that were training earlier. “This way please.” They walked in the direction of the changing room.
I changed into a tight training combat and boots. When we returned to the arena, Vivian had parked her hair in a tight bun, and I noticed some people joined to watch what would likely be my death.
When I stepped into the ring, Vivian curtsied in mock respect. “Go easy on me, please.”
I didn’t dare look at the Lycan king. He would not help me. My hand was vibrating, so I had to clutch it in an attempt to quiet my raging nerves.
So at last I wouldn’t be killed in the Lycan king’s hand, but by his supposed betrothed. There was no magic here, she was trained and naturally stronger than me. I would be lucky to get to the afterworld in one piece.
She stalked around me. “Apologies in advance.” Her side twisted in a dark grin, “I’m only returning the gesture of your disrespect on our first encounter.”
“What? You assaulted me,” I corrected her as she rounded me.
“We quite have a different view on that. The alpha would agree as well. He saw it.”
Then she took her fighting stance, like a wild cat ready to pounce.
And then when she lunged we heard a clear call, “stop!” From the Lycan king.
The force in which she attacked slammed me to the side alongside her.
“What?!” She swirled to face the Lycan king, fire in her eyes, but once she saw the down right dead look in her eyes she whimpered and curled back like a reprimanded puppy. “Why my king?”
My legs were still trembling and I was still on my ass on the ground. Frantic heart from panic attack and fear. Bloody hell, I saw my life flash before my damn eye.
“Follow me,” the Lycan king commanded me and turned away. Not lingering by the second.
Vivian was about to throw a tantrum, but she bit back it and bowed to the Lycan king and then glared at me from the corner of her eyes.
As I was about to leave the ring, Vivian rushed to me, she held my hand with a smile, “I’ll have you, don’t you worry.”
I snatched my hand away and left the arena. My guard met up with me. He guided me down the hall. “That was a close call.” He chuckled by my side and I shut him a glare.
“You were happy by this. Your job is to protect me, and you were happy someone almost ended me?”
“If you haven’t noticed, no one is exactly thrilled by the idea of you to be the Lycan King’s Bride, but no one can question it.”
My mouth dropped to the ground, blanched from his indiscretion concerning how he felt towards me.
“I’ll be careful around here, not only do the female Lycan loathe you, but almost every Lycan does. You are a target.”
I forced down the lump in my throat from his words. So I had to go by everyday looking over my shoulder. That was even more reason to leave as soon as possible.
Cartier met us by the hall, grinning like he had some grand secret in sight. I was still unsure of how I felt about him, was he included in the Lycan that hated me as well.
“I’ll take her from here,” he cut in, taking my wrist. “The Alpha asked me to bring her.”
My guard looked like he wouldn’t stand down, but Cartier raised his hand. “Do I look like I would hurt her? Besides, we are friends.” He looked down at me, “isn’t that right? Aren’t we friends?”
I was weary about answering that, but he hadn’t shown any hostility towards me. Yet.
“See,” he gestured to my face, “she didn’t say anything.” He faced my guard now with a fixed stare. “The alpha instructed that you make sure everything is in order in the arena.”
That sounded more convincing. My guard gave up trying to argue and marched away.
He puffed some air from his mouth in a snort manner. “Guards, am I right? They wouldn’t give you breathing space. Almost as if they want to enter inside your body.”
The more I stared at him, the harder I found understanding him. And he was the only one that didn’t act and behave like the complete Lycan.
“Down that hall, take your left then you will find the alpha. You are welcome.” He curtsied with a sweep of his hand under him.
“What?” I arched a brow at him.
“Don’t you get tired of being followed. Don’t you want a little freedom?”
Freedom. The words were foreign yet I felt it melt in my tongue like my favorite meal.
“I know how these Lycans can be, but trust me, I’m nothing like them. At least not completely.” As he spoke he moved back until he disappeared into the many archallways in the hall.
I didn’t have time to mull his words over, so I decided to see the Lycan king first. The thought made my heart squirm and…..
Just as I closed in to the door, I felt hands clasped around my mouth and yanked me back. Something covered my mouth and nose. I clawed desperately to fight away the hands, but they were tightly secured and my hand fell to my side as my world went blank.
Everywhere was dark, so dark that I saw only the glowing eyes of a beast before me. He was approaching me and although I hadn’t seen the beast in my life I had the connection that I knew who it was.
When he closed in, he snarled in my face and then used his claws against my neck.
I shut up on the…. I looked frantically around. “Where…where was I?” And that horrible nightmare.
As I staggered to my feet, I felt the claw from the beast and the glowing eyes seemed to be haunting me even now. And what made me even more terrified was the fact that those eyes looked familiar, though my memory couldn’t conjure where I knew it from.
“Who’s there?” I heard a voice call out when I fell on my knees once again.
“Hello,” I called into the darkness, better I was found by a Lycan than that beast.
My heart stumbled to my throat as my chest pumped rapidly. What if…. As I was moving back, I saw light pointed to my eyes.
“Who are you?” The voice deadpanned.
“Kayla.” I held my hand to my eyes. “The Lycan king’s bride.”
My head was blank, blurry. How did I end up here? I was heading to the Lycan king's chambers when ... .that was how far I could remember.
“You are bleeding.” The voice said, closer this time. “Here let me help you.”
I was weary about anyone touching me. This scene suddenly reminded me of Landon so I drew back instinctively.
“Take me to the Lycan king.” I wasn't certain what was happening, but if this place is still the palace, then the best safe place is by his side. “He has been waiting for me.”
He seemed to understand that I didn’t want anyone to touch me. So he kept a measurable distance as he walked me out of the dark passages and then in seconde we were back to a more recognizable area.
I could run from here. Escape.
But someone has been after me, and they might’ve been watching. Should I leave now, I might not make it.
Curse them! Why even take me if they were going to leave me like that?
I looked like a mess, good thing there was no one to make fun of it. Walking to my room to clean up, I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the Lycan king standing by my door. Fuming.
His anger slammed into me in torrents of waves.
Oh no…