Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
She tries to argue, but I rub my thumb over her lips, quieting her. Kyra’s eyes twinkle in the way only a bond can make them twinkle. She knows, she knows and has been lying.
“I am not Tyler.” The memory of her calling me by his name, aching in my chest.
“I know,” she whispers, tears filling her eyes. “Hayes-“
“And this is not our baby.” I say, making sure she understands.
“I know,” her voice is soft, more of a breath.
“And we are mates.” I tell her, no longer asking if she feels it but demanding that she admit it. Her eyes fall closed, a tear streaking down her cheek.
“I know that too.” She tries to look away. “Everything feels…He feels like he is mine, and whatever that was, it made me – The truth got skewed and |=”
My face softens, and I drop my hand, gently pressing the baby into her arms. She doesn’t take her eyes off of me, her lip caught between her teeth as she searches my face for something.
“We will deal with the mate bond when we have time. But for now, when you need the truth, look to me like you used to. Trust me, like I never hurt you.”
She nods, more tears falling.
“Now, we need to get out of this area. I don’t like what this asshole has in him.”
“What does that mean?” Kyra asks, looking past me.
“It means there is some weird shit going on in these woods, and unfortunately for us, Lycans aren’t impervious to the type of magic or weird shit going on around here. In order to keep you two safe, we need to move.”
She frowns down at her leg as | reach down and scoop her up, baby and all, into my arms. Her leg still needs more time to heal, even with it making progress. A broken lege needs more than a day and with the constant contact with a mate, she Will heal faster.
“I can walk,” she says, and I scoff.
“Very slowly with that leg and I’d rather move at a decent rate.” I mutter as she scoffs, but I see the smile on her lips, which brings one to my own.
She knows we are mates, and she admitted it. And her trust may be temporary, but at least I have it for a little while. Now I need to focus on getting her safe. Her and this little being that will save thousands of lives across many species. C belongs to *Kyra*
“Are you sure you know where you are going?” I ask Hayes for the one millionth time over the last three days.
His muscles are tense, every step making them flex as if he is in pain. He has taken minimal breaks, stopping only to allow me to stretch my legs. The baby has slept, not a single peep, no food, no wet or poopy britches.
“Yes, Kyra.” He says, not a hint of anger or annoyance as I look up at his exhausted face.
“I can walk now, Hayes. You don’t have to carry me anymore. It’s been three whole days.”
He scans the area in front of us, saying nothing as his jaw clenches and he tightens his arms on me. I turn my head, looking for what he seems to see: a quick movement in the dense leaves and a shift in the wind. I try to allow myself to smell the air, but all I can scent is Hayes and the somehow almost comatose dragon baby in my arms.
“Someone is here.” I murmur, low enough only for him to hear. He skirts his eyes to me, a curious glance before he stops, and lowers me down gently.
“I can sense them, but I can’t see them.” He mutters, keeping both hands on my waist as he tugs me close to him like he is fearful someone might try to take me from him.
“To your left, it’s too dense in here for a breeze yet, the trees sway and the leaves move.” I tip my chin in the direction and he gently pulls me behind him, one hand reaching around his back and resting on me.
“Come on out.” Hayes demands, his tone a threat and far from a request.
A dark figure takes a few steps toward us, pausing just as I recognize his frame. I press my hand to Hayes’ back, leaning in gently.
“It’s Teiran.” I tell him, but his muscles don’t relax, his protective demeanor unchanged, which surprises me. “Hayes.”
“You guys covered decent ground.” Teiran says, stepping closer to us, a curious glint in his eyes as he tilts his head, looking at Hates. “Though you both look like shit.”
“How long did it take for you to find us?” Hayes asks.
“Not very long. I spent a day or two with your brother and Colette, trying to make sense of Ezrah and his frantic screaming and threats.”
“What did Ezrah have to say?” I ask, peeking out from behind Hayes’ shoulder, still shielding the baby from view.
“He was screaming about how we stole the egg. He didn’t have it. The messenger boy even cried and then tried to kill himself for failing to protect the child.” Teiran scoffs. “Clearly, he doesn’t realize how resilient a dragon egg is, tougher than rocks.”
Hayes looks over at me, a message in his eyes as he flicks them down to where the baby is. Something happened to hatch the dragon boy, be it the egg breaking or it being ready to come out, but what does it mean that he has been born?
“What happens if it does?” I whisper, clearing my throat. “I mean, if an egg does break?”
Teiran snorts, his hands moving to his hips as he shakes his head.
“An egg doesn’t just break, not on its own or by force.”
Hayes looks at the ground, then he exhales deeply before he takes a step to the side, exposing me and the baby. I watch Teiran’s eyes blink and grow wider with every passing second. His chest heaves in disbelief before he breaks into a dry chuckle.
“I don’t fucking believe this shit.” he shakes his head and then drags his large hand over his face. “Where the fuck did the baby come from?” “The egg.” I tell him, my brows furrowing in confusion.
“Bullshit.” He growls, stepping closer. His eyes glow a fiery red, a warning that his dragon wants to emerge. I take a step backward, Hayes flying in between us, a warning in his body language as he seems to grow in height, his frame shielding me.
“Why the fuck would we lie?” Hayes hisses at him.
“I have some of the shell,” I rush out, pulling it from the little blanket with the baby. “Look for yourself.”
Teiran seems to seethe, his lips pressed together as they move wildly as if he is fighting with himself. Then he drags his hands through his hair and, with caution, places it out for me to give him the shell.
I take a hesitant step toward him, my chest feeling tight as I give it to him and he lifts it to his nose, dragging it along his face. An unearthly rumble emits from his chest as he shakes his head and opens his eyes, looking at the baby asleep in my arms, confused.
“How the hell…?” He murmurs, looking at Hayes for a moment before he takes a step closer, his arms outstretched for the baby.
“H-he is a boy.” I stutter out, my heart fluttering in disappointment as I lift the little bundle and hand him over to his older brother. Teiran’s face changes from confusion to awe as he takes him in hand, then he lifts him.
The blanket falls away, the little baby finally stirring as what looks like embers seem to glow in his veins. Teiran does the same, like a fuse lit and traveling toward the bomb. Hayes grabs my hand, pulling me back as I fight him off, not wanting to leave the baby.
ne I know he isn’t mine. That isn’t the child I carried and lost. I didn’t birth him, but I held him for days, cuddled him, and cared for him since the moment he came out. There is a bond there, a desire to want to keep the little fragile thing safe from harm. What if Teiran tries to kill the baby?
“Hayes,” I argue with him, pushing him off as I keep my eyes on the little flaming lights dancing over their bodies. But Hayes is determined as he bends down and lifts me over his shoulder.