Traded To The Lycan King

Merikh leans into me, his arm resting on the back of my chair as we listen to everyone on the committee speak.

Florence has looked my way a few times, smirking every time I catch her eyes.

I intentionally avoid looking in Johannes direction, not wanting to risk Merikh catching me looking at him of all people. Not that I am drawn to Johannes, but pretending he doesn't exist isn't all that easy in a room full of people I supposed to be respecting.

"Is there anything anyone else would like to bring up?" Caspian asks, looking around. He has pulled off the unimpressed king bit damn well today. Not once looking in our direction with the slightest interest. "Uh, yes..." Brent says, clearing his throat. "I don't mean to be a spoilsport, but I am curious why these two are allowed in meetings." He nods in our direction with an unimpressed frown on his face. "Oh great. Here we go again," everyone mutters, sighing in heavy annoyance.

"No, I am serious." He scoffs. "I don't mean to be rude or offensive, Merikh and Letty, but if we are sharing things, important things between our species, should we not be taking measures to ensure what is shared won't be used against us?"

I tilt my head, not really loving that I agree with him. But Brent makes a fair point, and it's not a decision intended to offend or be rude. It's logical that if we are the enemy, we shouldn't be privy to all information agreed upon in the meeting. He locks eyes with me, a curious glint as he seems to watch me closely.

I look up at Merikh, who stares around the table, his jaw clenched and his muscles tense. My fingers glide up his chest, along his soft neck and to turn him to look at me.

"Brent does make a fair point," I murmur to him and he frowns, glancing up before looking back and focusing on me. Then he sighs heavily and nods.

"My Luna feels that perhaps Brent has a point." He announces, and I can feel all eyes shift to me.

"Oh? Does he?" Caspian asks, his interest looking piqued as he seems to settle deeper into his chair, his deep blue eyes watching me closely.

"You are all so adamant to keep us from entering the council." I shrug. "Yet so willing to allow us audience and witness of what you discuss. Things that are of grave importance to your covens, your clans, your...whatever

Emergency calls they are to you. Which leaves the question...Why don't you care?"

"We aren't afraid of some little bitches and dogs. You are below us. In fact, your kind is better under us." Johannes chuckles and I turn my fiery gaze on him. He glares at me, but I remain resolute, not daring to blink as! make my point.

"I think you all know we will be back on the council sooner rather than later and there for speak openly." I say with a knowing smirk.

"Bullshit," Florence chuckles. "You would have to win over the majority, and most of us hate you."

"Yeah, that sounds like a stretch, young lady." The bearded guy from the first dinner says, leaning forward.

"I don't think I have had the pleasure of learning your name yet," I say to him and he frowns at me before. sighing.

"My people call me Elm. I am from the Fae realm." He says, giving me a courteous nod.

"Mmm, and tell me, Elm, what do you have against the werewolves?" I ask him. "I am aware of why Caspian hates out kind and even why Johannes feels the way he does, even if he is the one who inserted himself and got his own chosen mate killed." Elm chuckles as Johannes snorts at my comment.

your bloodlines crimes?" He tuts before looking at me. "His ancestors were what your kind calls mates, with my sister. A young fae with a bright future ahead of her." "Your kind lives that long?" I ask, leaning forward, fascinated by his story and

that lives the shortest amount of time.

י

all get up and leave the table. *Where is your sister now?" I ask

two hundred and fifty years and still looks like

age.

your loss." I tell him sincerely, offering him a sympathetic smile. "Losing someone you love is never easy. I lost my mother at a young age, and I know it is not the same. But I know what it is

the wooden table. The grain morphs, moving as it vibrates, and then a small bud shoots out of the table before me. There is no holding back the

whispers. "She took her life when she felt

when she couldn't be with him..." I whisper, touched by

from everyone else. She was a lover of everyone and she felt this bond was a

tear in

say with a soft smile. "Would you like to wander the garden with me?"

openness dissipating as he looks around. I gently take the bud from the table where he created

of flower is it?" I ask him and

"Magnolia blossom."

lifeless. If I showed you the tree, do you think you could

yes."

to show me the way,

to keep my distance?" Merikh asks as Elm frowns.

Gamma was brutally attacked

nods. "I suppose you will want to keep her within arm's reach at all

before nodding and motioning for me to

around at the stunning flowers and bright green leaves. "This way," I tell him, turning down a path to the left and

He tells me, "No need to keep

laugh lightly and

have no

me to trust you?" he asks,

to ask for trust when I can't trust a damn soul here, other than my own kind, that

he seems to think about what I am saying. "And as for swaying your vote...what

few others," he says, chuckling. "Let's not pretend you aren't here to show a softer side to your

massive form that is

'let's be friends' to someone who doesn't know him. But underneath,