Chapter 34 Ch 34

Two days passed in which I only left Danny's basement to use the restroom and shower. Danny's mate, Kiara, was kind enough to bring meals to me. Though I wouldn't have minded going out to hunt for Matt or stretch my legs, Braden did the hunting for us. When he wasn't scouring for deer, he was helping Danny locate another oracle. Or anyone who knew anything about Basileus.

I hated seeing Matt cooped up like this. His beast tended to pace behind the bars or croon at me. As much as I wanted fresh air, I couldn't leave him. Somehow, I knew they had all been right; the reason he was here was me. Which meant it was my fault he was trapped. I also knew if he got out, I would probably end up over his shoulder and halfway to Canada. So I wasn't sure if keeping him here was better or worse. Maybe both.

Towards the end of the second day, I heard the basement door open. I assumed it was Kiara bringing dinner like usual. Matt was laying on the floor, curled up on the other side of the bars where I sat. A leather-bound book rested in my hands while I read aloud to him. It kept me sane and I liked to think it kept the beast subdued. We were in the fifth chapter of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Matt suddenly jerked his head up. A low, deep growl frothed at his jaws. I paused to glance at his glowing blue eyes and then to follow their direction.

Standing there on the stairs was Braden. And behind him was Tandan.

"Oh my Jesus," I murmured. The book fell out of my hands.

The two men watched us before Braden led the way to the bottom of the steps. I swallowed back a lump of anxiety and got to my feet. Kiara's cotton sweater was a little tight on me, so I pulled nervously at it.

"Lee," Tandan called to me in a sedate voice. His eyes flickered between me and Matt.

"What...what the hell are you doing here?" I whispered.

A louder growl sounded from behind me as Tandan took a step toward me. He bared his teeth but didn't budge. "Your brother called me and told me to come."

My gaze jumped to Braden, who I pegged with a vicious glare. "You're so dead meat," I hissed.

"Rylee, be honest with yourself," Braden replied. "You need your mate now more than anything."

"He's not my—" I started to say.

"You can give us a moment alone," Tandan told him. "Just let me talk to her."

"If you want to be alone, you'll have to leave the basement. Basileus is much more of an eavesdropper than any of us."

Rolling his eyes, Tandan waved my brother off. "I scared him off before. I'll do it again if I have to."

A warning snarl came out of my own body, surprising all of us. Tandan shot Braden a look, so he shook his head and went back up the stairs. The door at the top slammed behind him. I noticed then that Matt was being unusually quiet.

As I dared to look back at him, what I saw was no less terrifying. He was gripping the steel bars with his enormous clawed hands, drool dripping from his jaws. His face was in a strange expression of hunger and anticipation. In short, he looked like a rabid animal.

"I knew it all along," Tandan said.

My head automatically turned back to face him.

"He never smelled right to me. But, I mean, Basileus? Didn't see that one coming."

I shrugged a little, remembering my insecurities. "Who would have?"

"No one, I guess. No one even knows the full extent of this whole king thing."

"Yeah," I agreed. "It would be good if Danny could find someone. I'm worried we don't have much more time before he breaks out."

An awkward moment of silence ensued. I looked back at Matt's quivering form. It began to dawn on me that I was standing in the same room as the man I rejected and then fled from. Why the hell was he here?

"Why did you come, Tandan?" My eyes trained intently on the beast.

"Because your brother asked me to," he replied.

"You don't even know my brother. He means nothing to you. Why did you come?"

There was a long, deep breath before I heard his footsteps draw nearer. Matt rose up onto his hind legs, growling lowly, and attempted to wrench the bars open again. They screeched under the grate of his claws.

"Because you need me," Tandan spoke over the noise. "Now, come talk to me where that thing won't be so distracting."

"This thing is the only part of my life that still matters," I told him. "He is the only person who has ever really protected me. Even when he isn't himself. The only distraction here is..."

Dammit. I couldn't even bring myself to insult him. All of the emotions I had walled off slipped out from behind their barrier and assaulted my mind. Pressing a hand to my mouth, I tried to muffle the sob.

"You rejected me, Lee," he whispered. Matt's growls grew louder. "And I just can't stand it. I can't bear to think I could lose my mate. I didn't try hard enough—I know that. I'm a shitty mate. My heart gets all tripped up when it thinks about Lorrie...but that doesn't mean we have to be over."

"I can't be with you if you're going to think about another woman. I won't be second place."

Matt jammed an arm between two of the most bent bars and released a beastly roar. The deafening sound was beginning to hurt my ears.

"Just give me time. I just need time."

"There isn't enough time in the world to make you stop loving her."

A heavy sigh pushed through Matt's raucous and was followed by a deadpan, "Then I'll leave you to fuck the animal."

I felt a stab in my chest at his words, but he was gone by the time I spun around. My face burned in anger. How dare he? If he was so determined to insult me, what was the point in coming here? Surely we both knew it was a waste of time.

Matt's beast calmed with Tandan's absence, so I naturally relaxed too. He whined at me. Combing my fingers through my hair, I approached his cage to lay a hand over one of his. Our eyes met again.

"Why am I here?" I whispered. "Why are you here? I'm not your mate. There's no claim between us, Matt."

He whined again, this time sounding sorrowful.

"You know I'm right." My eyes closed as I pressed my head to the bars. "You need to get out. I know you can do it. You're strong enough, Matt. Basileus."

When I opened my eyes, his were bright and glowing, their cerulean color seeming vivid.

"You're the king," I told him. "So take back your throne."

He released his grip on the bars, effectively pulling away from my touch, and curled up on the floor. My heart sank. Could he really be the lycan king?