Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
“Because she likes him for a son,” I hear Teiran behind me and I grit my teeth, dropping my head before I look at him. His hands are tucked into his pockets nonchalantly. “Imprinting goes both ways.”
“Does imprinting mean she has to mate with you? Or your father?” I ask, turning my breaking heart into an anger focused solely on him.
“Yes.” He says shrugging, a hint of a frown on his face. I scoff, looking away for a moment before I glare back at him.
“That’s a fucking lie and you know it.” I growl out and he arches a brow.
“Is that what you think?” he asks, looking smug as he walks through the door. I somehow didn’t notice he opened. The door swing shuts behind him as he moves closer and then stops. He scans Kyra for a moment and then exhales.
“How much have you told him?” He asks. Her eyes grow wide and she looks at me, licking her lips before she looks back at him.
“You said you would fix it.” She rushes out.
“Fix what?” I ask, looking between then the fear in her eyes enough to make my hackles rise and want to protect her.
“My father has demanded we initiate the mating bond the olden way.” He says, disappointment flashing over his face for a moment as he looks at Kyra.
“What does that mean?” I ask, my chest throbbing and hands growing clammy.
“My father wants to be in the bedroom with your brother and Colette…and you, to ensure Kyra is in fact fully mated to me.”
My mouth runs dry, the room growing smaller as I reach for my tux color and loosen in looking for air. The thought of his skin touching hers, his hands caressing her body, makes the bile rise as I spin away.
“I won’t do it, Teiran. You promised me.” Kyra says the words but they sound distant in my ears as I grow frantic trying to come up with a solution. “There is only one thing that can stop all of this.” I mutter the weight of what I am about to say and to who not lost on me. “We need to kill your father. Today.”
He looks at me, not an ounce of shock or disgust, just a blank stare as he blinks before he looks down and crosses his arms over his chest. He seems to mull over what I have said, Kyra looking at him expectantly.
“It won’t be as easy as you think it is.” He frowns, “And simply saying you will do it today won’t make it work. It requires a plan, one that we need weeks to make.”
“Then we postpone the ceremony.” Kyra offers and he scoffs.
“We can’t ask for an extension. There needs to be a valid reason.”
I swallow as an idea forms in my anvid head, one Kyra will not like, but I know it will send the heads of both species into a tizzy and likely land me in a shit ton of trouble. But then I look at her and realize I would do damn near anything for her.
So I stride over, closing the distance as I reach out, tilting her head to the side and I sink my teeth into her neck as she gasps and Teiran roars in anger.
Teiran’s hands grip my shoulder with bruising force as he tears me away, tossing me across the room with a thud. A sense of giddiness rises in my chest as I jump up, feeling no pain, only a sense of excitement as I grin at him, wiping the drops of her blood from my lips. Kyra’s chest heaves up and down, a red raging mark on her neck as she presses her head against the wall, gasping for air.
She looks fucking glorious as the bond surges through her, my feelings overwhelming her senses as I flood them through the one sided bond I have just created. Kyra is the only thing in my sights as I take two steps in her direction before Teiran inserts his annoyingly large body between us.
“Are you fucking insane?” Teiran asks, fire in his eyes as he glares at me.
A chuckle falls from my lips as I meet Kyra’s hazy eyes, watching the way she seems to watch me in surprise, but there is no anger there. Instead, it is almost as if she looks relieved, as if she realizes that I have chosen her over everything and everyone.
“Yes.” I answer Teiran, swinging my head to look at him. He stomps closer, stopping only inches from me, his jaw clenching before he grinds his teeth together. “Kyra is mine, Teiran. She always has been, and now, now she always will be,”
“She can always sever the tie.” He scoffs and I lean to the side, looking around him at her.
A smirk plays across my lips as I tilt my head, looking at him again.
“I don’t think you are in the position to make demands of her.” I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. “You have used my mate long enough, held her captive all because of her tender heart.”
“There is more here than what you are seeing, you fool,” Teiran hisses at me.
“Then I suppose I should have been informed before,” I shrug, like his problems are no matter to me, because truthfully, they aren’t. Teiran’s problems are his and his kinds issue. I have what I came here for and I fully intend on going everywhere with her. Even if it is to his kingdom.
Voices holler in the hallway, pounding footsteps not far behind as warriors come looking for the source of all the noise. Teiran curses under his breath pacing over to Kyra who pushes off of the wall, her hand covering my mark as if she is ashamed of it and my anger rises, my lip curling in distaste. “Hayes,” she pleads, licking her lips as she looks toward the door, her voice filled with agony, “You have no idea what you just did.” The door slams open, Merikh shoving into the room, his eyes wide before he furrows his brows and looks around the room, confused. “What the hell is going on? Why is there blood on your face?” He asks, moving over to me first.
“He marked Kyra.” Teiran grits out, his eyes glowing like a flame for a moment before he squeezes them shut and shakes his anger away. “Fuck,” Merikh groans, throwing his head back, his hand dragging over his mouth.
“She will sever the bond.” Teiran says as if Kyra will do it. The way her mouth falls open and her body shakes is all the proof I need to know she is not in agreement..
“I would like to speak with my mate.” I announce, everyone in the room looking at me as if I have gone crazy. “What is the worst that could happen? I mark her? That’s already been done.”
“I refuse to leave you alone with her again,” Teiran says, giving me a head tilt as if trying to challenge me.
“Then you can stay,” I shrug.
“I’m not going anywhere, Hayes. It is obvious you have lost your damn mind.” Merikh says, his hands finding his hips.
I nod in agreement. It is very likely I have lost my mind. But in my defense, I don’t feel completely in control of it or my body. One minute I have a sound plan and the next the all-consuming need to just drag her away and leave everyone else to burn takes over.
Kyra watches me with unyielding sorrow, each second tearing my soul to shreds as I reach out to her. She stands firm, confident as I slip my hand up her check, cupping her face. Sparks explode with such intensity that I close my eyes and force myself to count to ten before I look at her again.
“I should have asked.” I whisper, and she whimpers, reaching up and resting her palm over my hand on her face. She gently removes my touch, turning her head slightly as she kisses the palm of my hand, making my heart stutter a beat “Hayes, I would have said yes.” She breathes the words, her voice breaking.
“Kyra.” Teiran growls out, his voice a demanding rumble, but I force her eyes to stay on me.
“Do you trust me?” I ask, unable to look away from her as I watch her eyes change from agony to confusion and settling on a stunning look of determination.
“After the stunt you just pulled?” She scoffs, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
“I was only thinking of you.” I tell her softly and she lets out a heavy sigh.
“That is the problem. I need to know you will think of yourself as well.”
“Kyra, now is not the time for banter,” I say with a smile. There will never be a time where I don’t find her little bantering cute, even if it is wasting precious time.
“Fine.” She frowns. “Yes, I trust you.”
“Good. Go back to your room and get cleaned up. As much as I hate to say it, find something to cover my mark for the ceremony.” I instruct her and her face falls, her skiing growing pale as she searches my face.
“W-what?” she stutters her words and I lean forward, pressing my forehead to hers.
“This is the part where you trust in اظ