The Lycan Kings' Plaything

I tilted my head to the side, frowning. "What if it wasn't?"

I didn't get any murderous intent from it. The throne didn't sound like it wanted to ambush me. It sounded more like it craved a touch, a feel from someone. I might be reading too much into it, but it felt like I could tell what it was feeling.

"Listen to me," his voice got more serious as he lowered it, almost to the point of it sending cold thrills through me. "Don't ever go close to the throne room. It's dangerous."

"Why? Are you concerned about me?" A small smile tugged on my lips as I looked up at him.

He glared, averting his gaze. "I'm not. Athan seems to have taken a fancy to you. If anything happens to you during my watch, he will just become grumpy. I hate it when he does that."

"Oh?" I playfully nudged him. "So, you are not concerned about me? Like really concerned?" I couldn't help teasing him.

"Should I be?" When he looked down at me, the warmth I had imagined in his gaze was long gone, replaced by the darkness I saw that night, the first time we met.

I should have run, gone as far away from him, but I couldn't deny the delicious shiver that went through me as my stomach tightened. Gulping, I raised my palm and reached for his face.

I expected him to slap my hand off, to get on his feet and storm back into the house, but he didn't. His face felt cool to the touch, a sharp contrast from Athan's. I'd gotten used to how warm his twin is.

Swallowing back the fear that threatened to break through the haze, I leaned close and touched his lips with mine. Just like the first time I kissed him, it almost swept me off my feet.

Ethan let out a growl before he attacked my lips, placing his hands on the back of my neck as he deepened the kiss, stealing my breath from me. There was no fighting for supremacy. I couldn't even do that, even if I wanted to.

He was far stronger and could always overpower me. I surrendered to the kiss, scorched and heated by his desire. Oddly enough, the more we kissed, the warmer his body felt. It stopped feeling like I was kissing a snowman.

I snapped my eyes open when I felt him lower me to the floor, still attacking my lips like a starving man. His breathing came out in a sharp gasp as his hands roamed over my body, fondling my skin as he rocked his lower body on mine.

My eyes widened when I felt that hard rod poking me. Instantly, I grew cold under him, my heart thumping loudly in my chest in fear.

I'd heard about mating and knew what it means when a man sleeps with a woman. I had seen animals mate and had chanced on some villagers when they sneak into the forest to have a wild adventure.

I just… I just wasn't prepared for the real deal.

As if sensing my mood, he stopped. Breaking away from the kiss, he looked down at me. Red eyes, almost dripping with blood, stared into mine, unflinching.

"What's it?" His tone was gruff.

"I…" I gulped, feeling the warmth creeping up my skin, to my cheeks. I averted my gaze, thinking of how to voice this.

"What is it?" He asked again. Though how voice didn't soften, it didn't sound harsh…

"I… This is my first time," I replied, closing my eyes tightly. I was ashamed of myself for blurting something like that to him. With Athan, it would have been better. Ethan didn't seem like the right twin to pour my heart out to.

"Oh."

That was all he said before he got up. I sat up with him, looking confused. I didn't want him to stop, even though I was terrified. I just needed him to know it was my first.

"Is everything alright?"

I almost slapped myself for asking, for feeling scared of how my words had affected him.

He looked at me, stared into my eyes for a long time before he got up. He turned his back on me and said, "Aithan will take care of you more, since it's your first time. I will only inflict pain more than heal them."

He walked to the door, stepped into the palace and closed it behind him, leaving a guilty confusion. His mention of Athan reminded me of what I had done.

Despite knowing my feelings for the kinder twin, I had thrown myself to the other, and was even ready to give my first time to him.

I covered my face with my palms and screamed out as hot tears streamed down my face.

I was such a mess. Ever since I stepped into this cursed place, it seemed like I had been behaving abnormally.

Not only did I forget my promise to join my parents in the afterlife, but I also started harbouring feelings for two brothers! Not even one.

I sniffed, glancing up at the barren sky, looking for answers, anything that could help me come to terms with the strange things happening around me.

Am I selfish?

Falling in love with two brothers and sneaking behind their backs. Okay, it wasn't entirely behind their backs, as they seemed to know what was going on. Why else would Ethan ask me to give my first time to Athan?

Are they perhaps calling me a slut behind my back? Repulsed by how easy it was for me to fall for them?

I didn't know how long I had stayed outside until I heard the creak of the door. I whipped my head towards it, believing it was Ethan. Perhaps he returned to ….

I frowned when I saw it was Athan.

"Are you disappointed to see me?" His voice broke through my thoughts.