Save me!

Kane's POV

She was beautiful.  

I had hoped she would not. I had also hoped that she would hate me. And judging from the way her blue eyes glared daggers at me, that seemed covered already.  

“This is ridiculous,” She gasped, taking a step forward then stopped as if catching herself from coming too close. “Your Majesty. This is the first time we've met each other. We can't have a mating ritual yet.” 

She was afraid. Just like everyone else.  

But she was the first to look me in the eyes and call me ridiculous. Most people were often too scared to speak or look me in the eye anyways.  

Mate. Our mate. Beautiful. So beautiful.  

“The ritual will hold,” I grumbled, trying to block out the beast and his ramblings. It was hard to hear myself think, when he constantly paced around my mind, restless. 

If it were up to him, he would have her pinned up against the wall, slobbering all over her face. I couldn't allow that. The minute I gave him more control, everything would go awry and Catherine would remember.  

Fuck, I didn't want her remembering. Not yet. 

But I could remember. Every moan. Every taste of that skin. My mate was a wanton and she did not know it yet. 

“No, I don't want to!” She screamed and a low growl emanated from my throat.  

What the hell did she mean she didn't want to? She had to! She was my one shot, my one fucking shot at salvation. Whether she wanted to or not, it didn't matter.  

“You will,” I dead panned, stepping off the throne and stalking slowly towards her.  

Her fierce blue eyes widened but she didn't back away. “I won't,” 

Our mate, strong.   

She was strong. I could remember her shaking just outside my cage, trembling. 

Stop! You're hurting yourself. You're hurting me!

The beast within snarled, clawing at the memory. He didn't like to think that we had hurt her. But we would have. If that door hadn't been between us, protecting her from us, I would have hurt her.   

I stopped just a few inches from her. She smelled of roses. Sweet pink roses. I cupped her jaw with my hand, tilting her head so she could look up at me. The beast stopped prowling and mewled at the feel of our mate's skin.  

She smelled so good. I leaned forward, taking a drag of her scent. I ached for it like nicotine.  

Her pupils dilated and I wondered if she could feel my arousal through the mate bond. I had stopped our thoughts from leaking through the bond. I didn't want her to realize that the feral Lycan she had met two days ago was the man she was about to be mated to.  

She could find out later. Not before. Never before.  

“Durmas,” I rumbled, holding her gaze.  

The priest bowed, “Yes, your Majesty,” 

“Prepare Catherine for the ritual,” I growled. “Get her ready before sun down, I don't care how it happens. Damon will get me ready.” 

“Yes your Majesty,”

“Excuse me?” The adorable woman before me shrieked, slapping at my hands. “No. Okay? No can do! First you had me abducted and brought me here to be your bride, against my will. I had no interest in mating with you!”

The beast snarled again, his fury pulsing through my veins.  

Must mate. Mine. Ours.  

“You've barely said three sentences to me. You deflected my questions,” Catherine ranted on. “I don't even know your name-”

“Kane,” I spat, running my thumb over her lips. “My name is Kane, and you may only address me as such in private. Before the world, before our people, I am your King. You are a debt repaid-”

“You forced my parents!” She yelled accusingly. 

“No. I saved their lives,” I grinded out. “I don't know what stories you have been fed. But your parents crawled on their knees, begging for my help. They offered their daughter as a prize.” 

“My parents would never,” She fumed.  

“Then you did not know much about your parents at all,”

Seeing that I had rendered her speechless, I stepped away from her and walked out of the throne room with Damon tailing behind me. He held his tongue as we walked farther to the North wing and climbed down the stairs to the dungeon.  

The metal door to my cage was battered and torn apart. 

No. Not in there. I don't want to go in there.  

“When will it get fixed?” 

“Tonight,” Damon replied grumpily.  

“Make sure it's extra laid with silver,” I grumbled ignoring the beast lashing out in my head.  

This was the only way to protect everyone. To protect them from me. From the curse eating deep into my soul.  

“If the Lionheart girl is too much trouble for you, I can get rid of her and track down her sister,” Damon offered. 

“Do not bring up that suggestion unless you're fed up with having your head on your neck,” I threatened, turning to face him.  

He sighed. “Kane. She found you here. Two days ago. Her first night and she already knows what you are.” 

“She doesn't remember,” I shrugged.  

“Only because Durmas’ spell worked. But it's not permanent. Some day she'll remember-”

“I'll deal with that when it happens,” I growled.  

Damon hung his head in obeisance but managed to mutter anyways. “You have to let her go,”

“She's my mate!” I roared, appalled that he would suggest that. Angry that I knew why he wanted me to let her go.  

“Which is exactly why you should let her go!” He yelled and groaned when I grabbed his neck.  

I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. My fangs protruded and I wrapped my claws tighter around his neck. 

Never! 

“Never!” I echoed the words in my head. “She's mine. No one else will have her,” 

“Y-You'll kill her,” Damon wheezed, struggling to breathe. “Just like the others. And it will destroy you. Kane listen to reason!”

I let him go, clutching my head as images of blood filled bodies ran through my head. Women. Their hair torn and mangled, their bodies marred with heavy claw marks.  

My claw marks.  

Save me. 

“She's different,” I panted, punching a hole in the wall. “The ritual must be held tonight!”