Chapter 6— Lilith POV
When I woke up again, I was in a room, lying on a bed with the sheets draped over me.
"Luckily for you, your wounds are healing fast." I turned to find Maverick standing at the entrance, his back against the wall.
"You will return to him. Gain his trust. Make him think he holds you. Submit your body, mind, and soul to him. Make him fall in love with you. Put the bond to good use. Make him a blind, pathetic man. When he believes you're no longer a threat to him, when you have him wrapped around your finger like the fool he is — then kill him."
Morgan's words echoed in my head as I stared at Maverick. I only have thirty days. Thirty days to complete the task or Scarlett would claim the throne.
The image of Scarlett on the Blackheart throne sent an uneasy chill down my spine. Even though she wasn't heir yet, I knew that every moment I spent in Malraux gave her a higher claim to the throne. I'm counting down on the day I would return to Blackheart with the head of the Lycan King. The day I would be crowned Queen, and have Scarlett killed. But I would never be Queen if I were unable to kill the Lycan King.
How long will it take me to complete the task? How long before I have Maverick wrapped around my finger? When will I gain his trust?
My jaw clenched. What if it took forever to make him fall in love with me? What if he never falls in love with me at all?
I shook my head. I've seen how he reacted to the bond. He definitely feels something between us, but tries hard to resist it. It would take a little more effort from me to have him around my finger.
A smirk formed on my lips at the image of the Lycan King helplessly in love with me. Oh, how pathetic he would be!
"How are you feeling?"
"I don't hurt anymore," I answered.
"I felt your pain through the bond and hurried to the cell where you'd been kept to find you unconscious. Your clothes were soaked with blood."
"You saved my life."
"I did," he replied. "Just because I saved your life doesn't mean I don't want you dead anymore. I'll kill you if I have the chance."
"Why then did you decide to save me? You could have left me to die."
"The bond made me do it. It sensed your pain. It knew what would happen if I didn't help, and it made me restless until I saved you."
"Are you now agreeing with me that the bond between us actually exists? That we're fated mates?" I asked.
He stared at me in silence.
I smiled. "Never in my life would I have imagined the Lycan King would save a hunter."
"I have said this before, and I'll say it again. It was the bond. If the bond between us didn't exist, I would have left you to die." His eyes narrowed, pinning me to the bed with profound intensity. "I don't think you understand how much I detest your kind. How much I hate you. How much I want you dead."
Slowly, tugging the bond, I dragged the invisible thread connected between us. Maverick's nostrils flared as the bond slowly awakened. Goosebumps pebbled my skin as desire washed through me.
I have this under control," I told myself as I continued to pull the thread between us.
"Is that true?" I asked. "Do you really detest me?"
Muscles in my body clenched. I felt warmth slowly spread down between my legs.
The look on Maverick's face turned dark and became sinful.
"Stop doing that," he barked.
I slowly moved the curls hanging from my face. Then I proceeded to pull myself from the bed.
"Doing what?" I began to walk toward him. I didn't break contact with him. His eyes hovered over my body, staring down at my chest. I caught sight of the small gulp in his throat as he returned his gaze to me. As if reeling from a hypnotized state, he shook his head and shadow fell upon his eyes.
Before I could take another step, he pinned me against the wall. His large hands around my throat tightened. I caught sight of his veins bulging through his tanned skin as if they were about to burst. This action should have caused pain, but it only excited the bond.
"Be careful," he warned.
I leaned closer, brushing my breath across the side of his face.
"Really?" I murmured. "Because I can smell your arousal."
His jaw clenched.
I slowly began to trail my fingers across his chest.
"From your words, you hate me, but your body speaks a different language."
"A week ago you wanted me dead, and now you suddenly want me." His brows furrowed. "What is wrong with you?"
A moment of silence stretched before his brows relaxed, and he continued. "I guess it's the bond. It could sometimes make you do what you're not supposed to do."
The bond? I wanted to laugh. I had everything under control. If I wanted to let myself feel desired, I would. But as a Lycan, the mating bond affected him more than it affected me, and I could use it against him anytime I wanted to. It was pathetic that sometimes I allowed the bond to make me desire this Lycan. I wanted to summon my sword and rip his throat. But Morgan had claimed the Lycan King was smart. I wanted to roll my eyes. He was indeed smart, but I had him on his knees; I had nearly killed him.
"You want me dead," he said. "Abort that thought from your mind."
Oh, right. This was the main reason Morgan wanted me to use seduction instead of power fighting.
When his hands slipped from my neck, I smirked, taking a step forward. A yawn caught me, and I lazily stretched my body. The shift of my body was feline and deliberate, every movement of my curve intentional.
His jaw clenched, muscles ticking as he stared at me. Without warning, he swiftly left the room. I exhaled a sharp breath, running my fingers through my hair.
I was about to return to the bed when the door opened, and a chubby woman entered the room.
"A werewolf." My nostrils caught her scent. "Now, who are you?"
"Sylvia," she answered. "I am the keeper of this house."
"A maid then." I smiled.
"Better than being a hunter in captivity," she snorted.
"Be careful the way you speak to me. I could easily slice your head off before the Lycan King noticed." I took a step forward. "And you know what, he wouldn't be able to do anything."
"Alright then. Go on. Kill me, hunter."
The corner of my lips tugged as I summoned and willed the sword to appear in my hand. I looked down, frowning when nothing happened. Again and again I tried until I heard Sylvia laugh.
I frowned. "What is funny?"
"You really think the Lycan King would put you in a house without doing anything when you tried to kill him?" she asked.
"What did he do?!" I tried once again, but nothing happened. I was losing my patience.
"This house has been protected. As long as you stay under this roof, your magic will be as useless as you are. But the problem is you will not be able to leave until the King approves it because the entrance is sealed."
"You must really be joking." I walked past her, down the corridor, opening doors until I found myself in the living room. I walked toward the entrance, and as I opened it and tried to take a step backward, a force pulled me back. I tried again, and the same thing happened.
When I heard Sylvia laughing again, I turned angrily at her.
"You know I can still kill you with my bare hands."
"Oh, dear. With your powers gone, I could easily overpower you now. So long as I'm the keeper of this house and you're under my charge, you'll obey my rules."
I blinked. "You're bold for a pathetic werewolf like you. I hope you vanish once I gain my powers back, considering you're now among the list of people I want dead."
"That would be before the King kills you. You're only enjoying this luxury of life due to the bond. Once he finds a way to break it, he'll kill you."
She took a step forward. "You see, I've been assigned to keep you clean and well fed. If you would rather have claw marks on your skin, then I suggest you listen to my order and return to your room. Now."
When her claws began to elongate and her yellow eyes shone brightly, my frown deepened as I walked past her.