Chapter 14

Dylan POV.

"My Queen." I heard as I felt a hand on my arm gently pull me up onto my feet, the same hand gently touched my chin and lifted my head up to gaze at me. "You look positively radiant." A small shiver of disgust shot through me, but I couldn't deny that the sparks his hands were creating felt damn good. He smirked obviously noticing my slight reaction, and with it I felt like kicking myself for giving him the satisfaction. He placed his hand on my lower back and walked me towards his parents. "Mother, father, this is my beautiful mate." His thumb gently stroked my back, as he showed me to his parents. I heard the doors I just walked through quietly close and realized I was completely alone with these people.

His father took a step towards me and grabbed my chin roughly. He turned my head right and then left before looking in my eyes once more. "She is... very beautiful, I will give her that." The king bought his thumb up to examine the wound on my forehead caused by my running away. "Her defiant attitude however, had better subside immediately, or there will be consequences... Queen or not."

My breath hitched in my throat as he spoke, his eyes glaring into my own as he continued his check. After making it very clear that I shouldn't run away from king Josh, the king regent then forced my body to turn so my back was facing him, I felt the dress I was wearing get pulled down ever so slightly before a hum was heard.

"The scars could pose a problem." His mother stated from next to the king. I had never felt so degraded in all my life, I swallowed thickly as they continued their review of my body.

"This many scars is a clear sign of defiance. If the humans see them on her body for this afternoons announcement they will see their queen as a beacon for rebellion not for unity." He stated before once again turning me to face them both. His hands quickly moved from turning my body to turning my wrists, he inspected my forearms and scowled as he read the words scarred on my skin.

"She will wear a long sleeved gown for the announcement and for the remainder of the week, until we can decide what to do about that ghastly statement." The queen demanded as she turned to sit down at the table. She glanced down at the floor and frowned, before turning to address her son again. "Tomorrow, you will ensure that she is dressed appropriately, that includes adequate footwear." I couldn't help the scowl on my face as I slid my foot under the dress out of sight.

Every comment they each made about me, was deliberately not addressed to me. They were pointing out every single flaw and making me feel awfully self conscious while doing so. They continued to practically verbally torture me until finally, king Josh spoke once more.

"Everything will be put towards her stylist so they know the situation, now I'm sure we are all extremely hungry. I suggest we eat." He walked over to the table and sat down on his fathers right side while his his mother sat on his fathers left. "Oh, my queen." My head turned to the king before I lowered my gaze, proving he is my king. "You sit next to me." He quickly stood up and pulled my chair out gesturing for me to sit on it. I hesitantly sat down as he pushed my chair into the table, instantly my eyes met that of the oldish man sat opposite me. He smiled kindly which threw me off guard slightly, as he picked a glass of champagne up and sipped it.

King Josh, after sitting down once more, clicked his fingers aggressively, almost immediately 5 men dressed in black tailed suits and ties walked out with a plate each, they were placed on the table and the cover was taken off.

My mouth salivated at the sight of the food piled high on the King Joshes gold rimmed plate, the king and queen regents plates mirrored his, the older gentleman didn't have nearly as much but still, his plate looked and smelled incredible. Then my eyes met my plate, I had a small bowl of simple soup and a piece of bread on a plate next to it. It was nicer than what we get at school or at home, but it was also a proven statement that I was still human scum, until I let Josh mark me.

"The second the mating process is complete my queen, you shall have whatever your heart desires." My head turned slowly to meet his eyes, which were already staring into my soul. I didn't speak at all I just turned back to my soup and picked my spoon up.

"I am sorry this has happened to you, child. You must miss your family dearly." The older man stated from across the table, he gave me a sympathetic smile as he took his knife and fork in his hands and placed a chunk of food into his mouth. This man was different than the others at this table. He was kind and had a somewhat wise aura about him.

"She will be queen soon, apologies like that are pointless. This is an incredible opportunity, that not many people get. You should be congratulating Josh for finding his mate." The queen snapped at the man who's eyes rolled in his head, as he gave me a look that screamed good luck. I found him oddly comforting, I gave him a small appreciative smile, as I slurped my soup.

"I am very happy my grandson has finally found his mate, and such a beauty she is." This man is kind, I might actually talk to him later on. Of course he is still a Lycan but I think it might help to have at least one ally here. "However looking at her, you can tell she alone has been on the receiving end of our brutality on more than one occasion. I can imagine this being a very overwhelming experience."

I felt my eyes widen slightly as he spoke about me, he was spot on, it was like he read my mind as I sat opposite him. He was obviously the Kings grandfather, but who's father was he, the dowager king or the queen.

"Tell us about yourself, girl!" The queen demanded as she ate her food. I felt the whole tables eyes on me as I continued to eat my bland soup. Being quiet as you know, isn't really something I'm used to, so it may come as a shock to find I hadn't spoken a single word since meeting king Josh's parents.

"Do you have a voice?" The king regent snapped as his fist slammed the table, my eyes widened slightly but above everything I was desperately trying to keep my cool. I was actually being silent for a total of three reasons...

Reason 1: I happened to be terrified of almost everyone at this table, and I didn't want to show it.

Reason 2: I didn't want to speak to the two people who ordered the torture and executions of my kind.

Reason 3: My dad used to tell me, if I didn't have anything nice to say, I shouldn't say anything at all. I know for a fact, what was to come out of my mouth at this table would definitely result in punishment.

"I'm sure she's just shy." The king answered before I felt his hand on my thigh. I jumped in my seat from the sudden contact and scowled at him, before pushing his hand away from me.

"Bad mannered and rebellious is more the terms I would use." The queen chimed in, Before asking me questions. "Now, What is your name?" When I didn't answer straight away the woman growled and her tone turned a lot more sour. "I shan't ask again" Realizing I was stuck talking to these people I took a breath before answering bluntly and in a monotone voice.

"Dylan Riley" they frowned at my name Before nodding as the questions continued. What I thought was going to be an awkward lunch turned into a somewhat interrogation.

"And your age?" The dowager king enquired, this is going to be long and dull. God how I wish I was back home, or at school, then again how could I even face everyone knowing that my mother handed me over to them willingly.

"17." He nodded his head as he continued to eat. The questions continued, ranging from my grade point average, my IQ level and even my attendance records.

"And your virginity?" I almost choked on my soup when that left the dowager kings mouth. "I assume it is still in tact?"

"Why should that be any of your business?" I forgot my place slightly causing everybody's head to shoot towards me.

"I completely agree, that was highly inappropriate son!" The old man looked shocked at what the dowager king was saying. So he is the father of the old king, that explains everything.

"It does not matter." Everyone turned to King Josh, myself included. "Weather She is or isn't still pure does not bother me in the least, I'll be the last person she ever gives herself to." Omg, I can't even imagine having sex with this man. I didn't even think before words started pouring out of my mouth.

"I'm not having sex with you!" I exclaimed before my hands flew over my mouth. Shit I'm digging myself a hole that will be very hard to get out of. The kings father looked on the verge of shifting he was that annoyed, the queen had a calm rage building, and the older gentleman looked ready to jump in between me and the royals.

"On the contrary, my queen." The king chuckled. "You will be... tonight." I shook my head and stood up from my seat.

"I will not. You can't... you can't do that without my permission." I stated stepping backwards, away from the table. The king laughed at me before stalking towards me again.

"You are mistaken." He stated backing me into a wall once again, "I can't mark you without your permission..." he gently stroked the cheek he had slapped the previous night. "But I can use you however I like."

"Josh, that's enough, the girl is terrified." King Josh's grandfather tried but it was no use. He didn't let up, he let his claws elongate slowly and with such control, and slipped one of his hands around my back, his other hand snaked around my neck as a ripping sound was heard throughout the room. My dress became very loose as I realized he'd ripped the fabric at the back. I quickly held it to my breasts to stop it falling. My eyes widened in shock, while I braced myself for something bad.

The hand around my neck tightened, and I was beginning to find it difficult to breathe as my air ways were being crushed.

"JOSH!" His grandpa was shouting at him to let me go but it was useless, the Kings eyes were pitch black, and he had no intention of letting me go. His dick had sprung to life inside his trousers and I could tell exactly what he was doing.

"I can't mark you as my own yet... but I can claim your body." His voice was calm but had an anger to it that sent my eyes wide. Panic crept over me as I was beginning to black out, I tried to pry his hand off my neck but that caused him to squeeze harder, my eyes were rolling back in my head and my face must have been purple from lack of oxygen. Just as darkness was about to take over my weakened state he released his grip. My body fell to the floor coughing and spluttering as I tried to regain my breath and my senses, my dress fell in a pool of fabric around me but I managed to keep myself covered.

I tried to scurry away from him but it was no use, every muscle in my body seized up and refused to move out of fear. I was frozen unable to do anything but stare at the floor. 

"That is enough." My mates dad shouted as I half lay on the floor, I was shaking like a leaf, but I still refused to cry. "Intimate acts should be performed in privacy." The king growled but nodded slowly, his eyes then clouded over and I realized he was mind linking again. He stepped away from me, not even sparing my sorry self a glance as he walked out of the room with his parents following closely behind him.

I was left alone.