Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
“So I can see that you are safe. I just…need to be able to have eyes on you two for a while, that’s all.”
“And here I thought you wanted to check me out.” I tease. He smiles and shakes his head.
“I mean, there are bonuses to wanting to keep a close watch on you two.” He says, then he winks.
The walk back feels like forever. Hayes looks awful and Tiago grows more fussy by the second, squirming as if he wants down to walk. And though I know he can walk now, even if he was a baby earlier today.
“Tiago, we are almost back, okay? Can you be a good boy and stay calm a little longer?” I ask him and he pouts, shaking his head stubbornly.
Fantastic, he also adopted the terrible twos mindset along with his walking abilities. I exhale, exhausted from fighting, almost losing the two most important people in my life and the injuries I have sustained.
“You have to hold my hand, okay?” I say sternly, looking at him as he tilts his head to the side before he grins and nods.
As I bend down and drop his little ne feet to the ground, he grabs hold of my finger, gripping it tightly, just like his hold on my heart. I look back over my shoulder, tears in my as I watch Hayes smiling at the little boy at my side. He looks so proud as he watches him before he meets my eyes.
“Ohhh…hot!” Tiago squeals in excitement, drawing my attention as I spin back around and gape at the fire blazing in the pack. Sirens rush around, panicked as they do their best to extinguish the flames burning down the remainder of our joined packs.
“Shit!” Colette rushes past us before she drops to the ground, her hands spread over the green grass as her breathing steadies and the earth rumbles under my feet.
But before she can do anything, Tiago rushes forward, his chubby hands in the air as he laughs in glee. Then, as if the fire were under his command, it leaves the buildings and foliage floating in the air around him as he spins, playing with the flames.
“What the hell is happening…” Merikh asks, though the question feels rhetorical as I watch my son in the happiest moment I have ever seen him.
“I-i-I don’t know…..maybe it’s a dragon thing?” I whisper, looking at Hayes, who gives me a reassuring look.
“He is learning who he is, and it’s safer for him in this controlled environment. If it gets too hot, Colette can extinguish it and we can explain to him the dangers of fire to us, and water to him.”
*Hayes*
“Tiago,” Kyra whispers, closing the gap between him and her before she crouches down to his height. He giggles, a joy in his eyes that I have often seen reserved for Christmas mornings.
“Hot.” He smiles so widely his cheeks dimple and she gently places her hand on his arm.
“Yeah buddy,” she agrees, the flames now circling the two of them as sweat dots her brow. “But it’s too hot for mama. It hurts mama, and Hayes and everyone else here.”
His little brows furrow, and I have no idea if he understands what she is saying. How much can someone who skips years in a day really comprehend? Then he tilts his head to the side, his eyes meeting mine, then he frowns.
The flames drift toward me as if floating on an invisible boat across the ocean waves. As they get closer, the heat grows and I lift my arm to block my face, the sting of my burns on my arm growing more painful by the second. I hiss and wince and suddenly the flames disappear and Tiago drops to the ground on his butt, sadness in his eyes.
“Dada, hurt?” He says as his little lips pull together and quiver.
My heart breaks in two, my chest aching as I try to understand this awakening in me that wants to cry at hearing that title from his mouth.
“I’m okay, Tiago,” I saw, my voice hoarse as I swallow the emotions swimming through me. Kyra looks at me with a tiny, knowing smile on her lips as she feels what I am feeling through our one sided bond. I can see her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“He just needs to see a healer,” Colette says softly, moving over to Tiago and grinning at him. “You know, I bet my kids would love to see you again, and maybe play some fun games.”
He lights up, a typical kid forgetting the thing that was just on their mind when the mention of playing comes up. I can’t help but chuckle at his excitement as he jumps up and nods his head.
“Mama will come find you after I take dada to see the healer.” Kyra tells him as he grips Colette’s hand. Steam rises between their skin and they both look at it in shock before Colette giggles and he does, too.
“Kyra, you should go with him.” I say and she gives me a look, one telling me that she will not be doing what I say at all.
“He will be fine with us,” Colette assures me. “If anything, he is safer with me around than anyone else.”
I watch as Tiago happily follows along with Colette, not even sparing a glance back at us as Percy starts trudging me along each step like a dagger to my leg as he tries to keep me from jostling around too much. It takes effort to hide my pain from Kyra, but I mask the pain until we make it to the healers.
Percy helps me to the bed, a groan of relief breaking from my dry lips as I settle in, my muscles aching as my head rests back on the soft pillow. Spark rush through my body from my hand racing up toward my shoulder before spreading out through my chest and to every nerve ending in my body. I turn to look at Kyra as she sits next to me, looking at the healer who frowns as he picks up my charred hand.
“Well,” he clicks his tongue, reaching for some salve on the table next to him. “The best we can do is ease the pain. I know I don’t have to tell you how dragon’s flame works.”
“Yeah, I am well aware.” I say, gritting my teeth.
The healer exhales deeply, shaking his head as he painfully drags his fingers over my blistered and burned skin. Every drag, no matter how gentle, feels like a dagger digging down to the bone. But I find solace in Kyra’s gentle stroking of her thumb over my good hand, her touch easing the pain as best as she can.
“If this doesn’t heal well, Hayes, I would suggest amputation.” He mutters before lifting his eyes to meet mine. My lips press together tightly, unimpressed by his suggestion.
“You suggested that last time.” I remind him, and he nods solemnly.
“I am aware of that, and I stand by that statement now and then.” He says, looking to meet my eyes. “The extent of the damage is far worse than the last time, Hayes. I fear you will lose at least two fingers, if not three. The risk of infection is far too high.”
I sigh.
“Perhaps we can look at my leg now?” I ask him. “That is where the majority of my pain lies.”
“Yes, yes,” He mutters as he wraps my lower arm and hand in some type of leaves and then elastic band. When he makes his way down to my leg and pushes my shorts up.
“How bad?” Kyra asks, and I give her hand a squeeze back.
“It’s just a break. It will heal.” I remind her. She knows this, but the worry on her face doesn’t fade away.
“This will not be a quick heal, Hayes.” The healer admits, his hands pressing on my sensitive skin as I groan in pain.
“Fuuuucking hell.” I grind out, forcing my head back into the pillow as I try to breathe through my teeth.
“This right here?” The healer points to a lump in my thigh, pressing down as I grunt out. “Is a snapped femur, Hayes. I will need to set it and you will not be able to move for a while.”
“I am a lycan, and one born a beta at that. It will heal much faster than that.” I say with confidence. “Plus I am mated, well, almost fully mated.” Kyra grins, shaking her head at my stubbornness.
“I will make sure he doesn’t move a muscle.” She promises the healer. “And I will be sure to mark him, so he gets the most out of the bond.”
The healer nods, and I look over at Kyra, watching as she nibbles her bottom lip shyly. I can sense the way she wants to make the full bond happen. Simply marking each other isn’t enough. We will need to mate, eventually, to have the bond in full swing. And the sooner I heal, the quicker that will be.
Pain rips me from the delightful thought of finally having Kyra to myself in every way. Bile rises in my throat, burning its way up into my mouth as the bitter flavor coats my tongue and stars dot my eyes.
I can feel the way my muscles move, the bone slipping back into place as he sets in. The feeling makes my stomach squirm and there is no stopping the vomit as it flies past my lips, sloshing onto the floor.