GIFTED RILEY by Lacy Mierr

Chapter 15: A King Breaking Hearts 

*Riley* 

The woman began to sob at Nicolas’s feet. She crawled away from the bed and towards him with her nails digging into the pant of his leg. “Oh, My King! It was terrible!” Both me and the lycan king stared down at her act. “You should have seen the way she beat me first! All because I was trying to visit you!” 

“Is that so?” He responded with an angry tone, staring down at her with dark eyes. I watched him, waiting for him to decide who he believed. I was nearly certain he wasn’t going to choose her. I had no wolf, so it was obvious I didn’t have the power to hurt anyone around here. 

However, there was still this voice in the back of my head that 

reminded me of what she said earlier. She was apparently his favorite. Would he go along with her story just because he wanted to keep her around? 

“I just came over to show you a good time, like we usually do! I wanted to make you happy again, since you’ve been moody all day.” She continued to explain to him. My mouth opened and closed as I decided whether I should say anything or not. 

Instead of trying to intervene at all, I wrapped my arms around my knees and hugged them to my chest. I just wanted to sleep! Why couldn’t anything ever go right for me? 

Chapter 15: A king Breaking Hearts 

Nicolas kicked away her grabby hands, forcing her to back away. “I never summoned you, Victoria,” he growled down at the girl with a cold tone. I shivered at the idea of him talking to me that way. He crossed one beefy arm over the other like he was shutting her out completely. “I really fuc*ing hate when people don’t listen to me. 

“What?” It was her turn to have a weak tone as she stared up at the king. I briefly wondered if she was getting teary eyed from being shut down so blatantly. I would have felt bad if she wasn’t threatening me just a moment ago… Or that it was my supposed mate she was being rejected by. “You’ve always liked my work! Even the times I’ve come here without a summons!” 

“Get out of our room.” The woman cried out again at his sharp tone. “Starting tomorrow, you will have some new duties in the castle. “Fixing up the laundry sounds just perfect for her, doesn’t it, Riley?” 

I didn’t respond, staring at the pair. Somehow, this man has managed to make many enemies for me. It wouldn’t be a surprise if this one grew to despise me too. Now that I thought about it, all of his lovers and sex slaves would be an enemy to me. I wasn’t ready for any of this. 

“I don’t want to see you in this room ever again. Not near it, not in it.” Thankfully, he didn’t seem to see my lack of response as a bad thing. “Do you understand me?” If possible, his voice seemed to get deeper with the question. 

Victoria nodded her head in a hasty yes and ran out of the room with her tail between her legs. I frowned while I watched her. She had tried 

Chapter 15 A King Breaking Hearts 

her 

very best to please this man day in and day out. Now, just like this, her work was all for nothing. Sentenced to do the laundry instead. I doubted the girl had to do an ounce of physical labor in her life. 

That could be me someday. When Nicolas finally decides I’m not worth all the hoops he has to jump through. Maybe another prettier face will pique his interest and he’ll stray from my side. All of his mate talk meant nothing if he was going to throw me away as easily as he did with her. His being kind to me was an act that he could wash away at any time. 

“Are you alright? I should have known she would show up at some point. I just didn’t expect it to be so soon.” His tone was apologetic. without actually saying the words. 

Nicolas stepped forward, reaching out as if he was going to cup my jaw in his hands. He only stopped because I scooted back from him on the bed. My eyes turned down to the sheets rather than staring at the 

slammed door. 

He sighed as he looked down at me. Could he see my inner turmoil? Did he agree with my rampant thoughts? I wish I could dig into his mind. That would make things so much easier for me. Or harder, depending on what he was thinking. No matter what was going on in his mind, I was stuck with him. Until I ended up like Victoria. 

He turned his head away from me as well, deciding what to do with me. “I’ll sleep on the couch tonight. To make you feel more comfortable.” 

Chapter 15 A King Breaking Hesits 

I looked at the large lycan king for a moment, then to the couch. There was no way he would be able to sleep on it and still be comfortable. Not to mention, this was his room. His own castle! I shouldn’t be the reason he was forced to sleep off of his own incredibly comfortable 

mattress. 

“I can’t make you sleep on that thing,” I finally spoke up. I gripped the sheets under my hands tightly as his gaze locked on her once again. My voice was in a quiet voice as I kept talking, “If I just had my own room, then this wouldn’t be a problem… I don’t deserve to be in a room like this, sharing it with a wolf like you. It would be easier for both of 

1. US. 

It was so easy for him to let Victoria go, I assumed he would consider my words for at least a moment. This was not the case. In an instant, his eyes blazed with anger that had me flinching back from him again. 

“You are my MATE, Riley!” I pulled my knees tighter into myself as he yelled at me. My vision started to blur from tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. “I’m not going to put you on the other side of this. damn castle! You will stay here. With me.” 

He watched as I cried, staring up at him in fear. I couldn’t tell if was watching me for so long because he was guilty or if it was something else. Eventually, he sighed at me for the second time in the past few minutes. “Get some rest now.”