Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
“No one is concerned about him just walking off?” I ask. “How do we know we can trust him?”
“Calvin lost everything to save Colette.” Melody says, looking at Claspian.
“What?” Caspian asks. “How?”
“He led to Giselle and the man she was with.” Melody says looking to where Calvin had disappeared. “I don’t know exactly what happened, as he hasn’t fully explained it. But he was there that night and he was punished. He was as much a prisoner as I was.”
As if on cue, the old man comes back into view with a handful of plants and the same song he has been humming since we picked him up. He moves behind me and I look at Caspian, whose eyes drift closed even though he fights the urge. He goes silent for a moment and then cold wetness hits my back, making me cry out in shock.
“Maybe a little warning next time?” I grit out, wincing as I try to hide my pain.
“Oh. Uh, yes. This may sting.” He says, like I had woken him from a trance.
“What is it anyway?” I ask him and he chuckles.
“Various plants, meant for pain relief to help you make it to where we are going.” he pauses. “And uh…well… dragon’s saliva.” He clears his throat and my body tenses, my face morphing from one of pain to disgust.
“Did you spit on my back?” I growl low in warning and he pops around in front of me, shaking his head.
“Oh, no no! I chewed up the plant. Dragons saliva has many healing properties. It will not save you from scarring it, but it will help heal what it can.”
“I don’t know whether to thank you or hit you.” I mumble, nuzzling my face into Colette’s hair, dragging her closer as she murmurs something incoherently.
“I would understand both actions.” He says in a sing–song voice as he applies more to my back. I use the mate bond between Colette and me to recharge both our bodies, hoping it will give her something, help her recuperate faster.
Exhaustion hits me hard as my adrenaline wanes and the pain subsides my body, begging for rest while Caspian and Melody snore lightly near each other. Calvin sits across from me, staring up at the sky, not humming or speaking, just mindless staring. I want to ask him questions but words fail me as I too find it impossible to stay awake any longer.
My eyes snap open as I sense movement and sit up abruptly, nearly knocking Colette from my lap. I scan the area, finding a set of eyes watching me from the cover shadows in the trees. They step out, moving closer, and my eyes grow wide as I see Ezrah, who looks concerned,
“What the hell happened!” he whispers, coming over to help me “I hate to sound unhappy to see you, but what the fuck are you doing here?” I ask him, and he frowns.
“I am always around. Alpha,” he tells me and I scoff.
“Unless we are fighting and could use the help.” I grumble at him and he frowns.
“Ah, well, I was on my way to deliver a message to Caspian from Elm. I was not here for your heroic fight, it seems.”
“And what message would that be?” Caspian asks, his voice raw as he sits up, looking like absolute shit. His eyes are dark, h skin almost slack as he looks like he gained wrinkles overnight.
“The Fae have agreed to strip Lily of her title and, along with that, she will lose a majority of her power. But he needs to ge to her first, so he can release her from their bond and strip her of the title.” He says with a gentle nod.
“I see,” he says, coughing roughly as he sits up, trying to stand.
“You look rough, my friend,” Ezrah says, frowning.
“It’s been a rough few days.” I tell Ezrah, eyeing Caspian and realizing we need to move, and fast, before we lose him.
“Allow me to help escort you to the water. It is just over that hill, Ezrah says with a knowing smile. Caspian furrows his bro worry flushing over his features.
“I think I am dying.” He whispers. “I should be able to feel the pull of the water. It should be calling to me…But I feel nothin but emptiness.”
His eyes meet mine and I see how dull the blue has become and suddenly fear grips me. Caspian has become a friend, someone I trust with my life, with Colette’s life. Not to mention Colette will be destroyed if he passes. We need to get him to the water as fast as humanly possible.
“Can you move fast with Colette in your arms?” I ask Ezrah, who nods.
“Of course.” He says.
“Take her and lead the way. I will use my lycan to carry Caspian as fast as possible.” I say.
He swoops down, scooping up my mate. His eyes meet mine and he gives me a nod.
“I swear to be gentle,” he assures me as I stand, then I call forth my tired lycan and lift Caspian as he tries to feebly deny me.
“We will be behind you,” Melody says, her lip between her lips and a somber look on her face. “I will meet you on the horizon.” She whispers to Caspian, who rasps out a breath.
“Hold on, old friend, just a little longer.” Ezrah says before we break into a dead run, racing against time and nature to save him.
*Colette I feel like I am floating, my body humming with energy and a shockwave that zips through every vein, screaming for me to wake up. My wolf sighs in relief and the rest of me…it feels refreshed, hydrated.
Someone is murmuring to me, little sweet words in my ear as I come closer to consciousness. Arms are wrapped around me and a sigh tumbles out, then panic takes hold of me. I try to sit up but I am stopped, a voice calming me.
“Calm down, Letty.” Merikh whispers in my car and tears dot my eyes.
There is no way I am alive, and it breaks my heart. My chest aches and my throat feels like it is closing up as I glide my hands over his arms, holding him tight, clinging to the moment. A tiny sob breaks free, as my body shakes with sorrow and his face presses into my neck.
“Don’t let me go,” I whisper, not ready to leave him or worse, for him to leave me.