Filed To Story: Traded To The Lycan King Novel (Colette & Merikh) by MG Wattsons
I meet his eyes, my heart thudding with painful force in my chest.
“It’s really bad, isn’t it? I need to know…” I ask, trying like hell to remain hopeful.
This time I see the c r a c k in his stoic face, the uncertainty in his face as she licks his lips and looks down. I lean forward slightly, venturing to see it for myself, but he places both hands on my shoulders, pushing me back slightly.
“It’s bad, Colette. He wouldn’t want you to see it, not like this. Just….we need to get him out of here. And then I need to look for the others.” He mutters, scanning the room around us.
“The others?” I ask in alarm, finally turning my head to survey the damage.
My mouth drops open, water leaking from an exposed pipe, a massive section of the ceiling and stories above head missing as the sun filters in, shining through dust particles, making it look like a heavy fog has fallen over us.
I see someone sitting in a dark corner, their dress shoes poking out and someone crouching next to them. Not a single other person appears to be in the room other than those two and I feel myself growing numb. Not in the sense that I have grown cold or lost the sensation of feeling things physically. I am numb to the shock of what I see.
There is blood splattered along the walls that aren’t singed black, everything is wet, dripping with dirty drops of water and insulation hangs from the only part of the ceiling still intact.
But none of that has any bearing on me. Not a single one of those things seems to surprise me. Too much has happened, too much was at stake, and it was all because of me, all over me.
“Cole…” I hear, spinning, hoping to locate the voice. It’s Caspian, a breathy, pained version, but it is him, no doubt.
“Where are you?” I ask, and I see one foot move in the corner. The figure crouching next to him stands and helps him up. and I finally feel a little tension release from my chest, finding him standing with his arm over Brent’s shoulder for stability.
“How is Merikh?” He asks, and I bite my lip, shaking my head and shrugging. There is no way I can say the words ‘I don’t know’ without sobbing. His eyes are tired but soft as he gives me a weary smile.
“He needs immediate care.” Hayes says, standing. Penny comes flying in next, her eyes finding mine and then landing on Merikh. Her face instantly goes cold, like she is hiding all emotion as she rushes and helps me up.
“You are bleeding too, Luna.” She tells me, but all I can see is the mess I created.
“Help Hayes with Merikh, We need to get him taken care of right now.”
“Yes, Luna.” She says, reaching down and grabbing a shoulder. Hayes stands, grabbing the other side and the two of them hoist him, his body dangling between the two of them and his back revealed to me for the first time.
A shocked gasp tears from my lips as I slam a hand over my mouth, the tears trickling free again. His shirt is completely burned away, his flesh raw and red, his muscles exposed where it looks like a meteor may have hit him.
The skin surrounding the circle is already raised and blistered, licking up his arm in a grotesque display of how quickly flames can melt away the flesh.
“I will do everything I can, Colette.” Brent promises me.
“Can you walk?” Caspian asks, softly and I nod, feeling slightly lightheaded, but my legs are sturdy and if it means being with Merikh through this all, I could run a marathon.
“I will be right behind you.” I whisper, looking through the rubble on the way out. “Where is everyone else?”
I look at Brent, who frowns, his eyes scanning, then he freezes, motioning for me to rush to him. I move over to him and he rests my father’s around over my shoulder as he stumbles and trips over soaked dry walls and crushed furniture.
“Elm!” He screams, throwing things to the side. Cursing under his breath, he reveals a large bark like slab of wood, trying to pry it to the side before it slowly shrinks and disappears, revealing Elm, holding an unconscious Joffrey in his arms.
“The others ran.” He coughs. “Took off with Giselle on the f u c k n g dragon she called.”
I furrow my brows and look up at Caspian.
“But isn’t she a dragon?” I ask, confused. “Why would she need to call one?”
“That is an answer I don’t have right now, my daughter.” He says, sounding like he may pass out at any moment. I can feel how weak he is. The water in his being is drained, weak, and I can’t tell if it is because he expended himself or because he has been away from the ocean for so long.
“What does all this mean?” I ask him as I lead him out of the room carefully, following Penny and Hayes as they drag Merikh away. “For the council?”
“It means there is no council. Not any more. It’s time to go to our own kinds and prepare for a war.” He breathes, his eyes falling closed for a second before he grows heavier and leans into me.
“Stay awake,” I say, shaking him. “I need you to stay awake, please…”
Caspian leans on me, his head lulling before he snaps it back and shakes it like he is trying to not pass out. I cling to him with all the strength I have, trying to keep him upright as I look around for anyone who can help me.
“Just hang in there for a few more minutes,” I beg him, and he chuckles lightly.
“I am okay, sweetheart. Just drained, I need water. It has been too long.” He says weakly.
“Should I take you to your special bathing room?” I offer, not really sure how the hell I will get him up the stairs, or how long it will take. My heart yearns to be at Merikh’s side. As much as I care about Caspian and his well–being, he is my estranged father and not the man I love who is in much worse shape.
“Caspian!” Ezrah yells from down the hall before he sprints toward us, taking the other side of his arm over his tall, slender shoulders. “What in the blazes happened?”
Caspian just smiles and shakes his head, too tired to speak, and Ezrah looks to me for answers.
“Giselle disapproved of the vote to place lycans and werewolves back on council.” I explain, and his eyes grow wide.
“So she destroyed the place?” He asks and I nod.
“She tries to attack me, and then everyone started fighting. She escaped on a dragon.”