Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
“It’s too hot for us.” He grunts, breaking into a sprint.
“I don’t feel any heat!” I roar, reaching for them as they burst into a flame that takes my breath away.
My heart explodes, then sinks to my stomach, a sob breaking from my lips as Hayes slams me into the base of a large tree, his massive body covering mine as heat blasts past us. I try to stop the crying, holding him tight as I bury my head into his chest.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he murmurs over and over before he finally stands and helps me to my feet.
“I don’t want to see.” I murmur, shaking my tear-stained face.
“Kyra, they are dragons. They live and breathe fire.” He grabs my face in both of his hands, forcing me to look in his eyes. “They are fine. Look!”
I whip around to see Teiran laughing with a little lively baby in his hands. The infant now looks like it is months old, holding its head up on its own while giggling.
I blink, confused, my mouth falling open as I grip Hayes’ hand in mine and squeeze it tight. This doesn’t make sense, not that I know anything about dragon babies, but this…seems strange, magical.
I take measured steps toward them, my mouth fully agape as they look at me and Teiran points to me. The baby giggles and coos, sticking its chubby hands out like it wants me to take it. My nose stings with fresh tears forming and I pinch my brow with my free hand, shaking my head.
“I don’t understand…” I mutter.
“He is a dragon,” Teiran announces happily.
“But, you…I mean, what the hell was that?” I stutter, eyes still wide in shock.
Teiran looks down at my hand in Hayes, his lips pressing together before he looks back up at me.
“That was the royal blood flowing through us. It was a test to see what he was and burn out anything else. He is truly only just dragon.” He announces. “But he is a motherless prince, or so I thought.”
The little chubby dragon baby whines, a whimper and pout on his lips as he tries to get to me. I happily reach out, taking him in my arms and grinning at my little buddy.
“I was worried about him.” I admit. “He slept the entire time and never once tried for food or even needed a diaper change.”
“Dragons can survive years without food. Even in infancy, the dragon protects, almost like a hibernation.” Teiran says, his voice closer as he leans over me, looking down at the baby. “But there is one thing they can not survive without.”
“Mmm, and what is that?” I ask, not bothering to look up as I make baby noises and play with the soft chubby hands.
“A motherly figure.” He whispers.
“Over my dead fucking body.” Hayes roars from behind me.
et I feel his hand on my back before it drifts away and suddenly a massive claw wraps around my body and I am being lifted. Trees creak and break as wood splinters down over Hayes as he shifts into his lycan form and throws his head back in a terrifying roar that makes my chest ache as I watch him grow smaller as we lift further into the sky.
Every scream goes unheard as the wind rips away my cries for Hayes and demands to be put down. My throat is dry and sore and my lips cracked from the icy wind as I hold the baby tightly to my chest, his warmth heating me as if I were hugging an electric blanket. It’s not until I look down at him I realize he is watching me with curious, sad eyes.
“It’s okay, little guy,” I whisper hoarsely. Not that he can understand what I am saying, but he seems to tilt his head before his chunky fists clench my shirt tighter. Teiran makes a tight turn, forcing me to close my eyes as I squeal, ducking my head to the baby in fear before the massive wings slow and finally my feet touch the ground again.
A breeze shifts around me, and I can hear the snapping of bones as they rearrange. When I open my eyes, I see a fire burning in the corner, one of those magic dragon flames emitting little to no smoke. I whirl around ready to lay into Teiran for his shit move, only to find him not there. My mouth falls open as my brows furrow, and I take two hesitant steps.
“Teiran.” I call out, my throat aching.
“There is tea over by the fire.” His voice echoes from somewhere as I look up, noting the stone ceiling, the walls and as I look at my feet, even the floor is made of stone.
“I don’t want anything.” I bite out at him wherever the hell he is.
“Why? We are going to be here a while and your voice sounds rough” His voice echoes again and I spin to see him sauntering closer. His black shirt clings to his frame as he leans into the curved rock wall.
“Because you are taking me back to Hayes.” I scoff, and he chuckles.
“That is far from what I will be doing.” He smiles sweetly before he pushes off the wall and brushes past me.
“What are you doing?” I hiss at him as he hums to himself, ignoring me as I move closer to the fire, reluctantly enjoying the warmth. Teiran goes about his business, gathering tea from a tiny carved out stone cupboard and then grabs a pot, pouring water into it from a jug before he moves it to the fire.
“Teiran,” I say softly, trying not to sound like a beggar, but the pleading slips through. I miss Hayes already. “Please.”
“Please what, Kyra?” He asks, not looking up as he stands and moves behind me, dragging a cot closer for me to sit.
“Please take me back.” I whisper, a tear slipping down my cheek.
“Sorry, but no.” He grunts, then he moves over to me and reaches out, removing the baby from my arms as he lays him down in a pile of furs on the ground.
“Why the fuck-“
“Shhh,” He interrupts me, pressing a finger to his lips. “We will discuss this after he has been down for a few minutes and after you have had some tea. Your voice is grating in my ears. It sounds like I’m arguing with a man.”
I gape at him as he shakes his head and busies himself with other things while I stew in the anger of my sudden kidnapping and ache in my chest from being so far from someone I only just found again.
“Why am I here?” I whisper, tired of the silence, of the aching in my chest and this stupid war.
“Sip on this,” He mutters, shoving a ceramic mug into my hands.
“I don’t want it.”
“Then I won’t answer any questions until you drink it.” He shrugs, taking a seat on the ground and leaning back onto his palms.
I grind my teeth together and sneer at him as I sip the hot tea. It burns my throat as I swallow it down, a hint of amusement in his eyes as I make sure to stare at him. After I empty the glass, I place it down and move to the ground, away from the sleeping baby.
“Better?” he asks, arching a brow with a smirk tugging at his lips.
“Why did you leave Hayes behind?” I ask, getting straight to the point. He sighs heavily and rolls his head from shoulder to shoulder like he is stretching.
“I don’t need him.” He finally says, choosing his words carefully.
“And you need me?” I snort in disbelief.
“Yes.” the word slips from his lips with ease and I scoff a disbelieving chuckle.
“What, you need a babysitter?” I ask him, rolling my eyes.