Traded To The Lycan King

*Colette

“You should at least try to rest and lie down while you wait for them all to come back,” I insist, and he shakes his head.

*If I have to rest for a minute longer, I am going to implode.” He grumbles, taking a step. I panic, my arm sliding up his back as he groans in pain, his head flying back as he grits his teeth.

“Sorry!” I hiss, releasing him as he slumps to the side, his hands landing on the side table to hold himself up. “Shit,” I mutter.

“Perhaps a walking stick would be better,” he says, wincing.

*Or maybe you should be sitting down at the very least.” I say, looking around the room, finding a tall stool for him to sit on. I drag it over to him, then as gently as 1 can I lead him to it. My eyes scan his back, the pink, melted skin breaking my heart with every breath he takes.

“Are you going to fill me in on what you and Hayes were silently figuring out? Or do I have to find out with my father?” I ask

him.

He exhales, his hand on his side and a grimace on his face as he tries to inhale a deep breath

“Percy and Leandra, no longer speaking, is not a coincidence. At least I do not believe it is.”

I furrow my brows, walking around in front of him. Merikh reaches out, tugging me closer to him as he wraps his tired arms around me, sticking his hands in the pockets of my jeans. I place my hands on his face, stroking it with my thumb, afraid to touch him anywhere else. Should it cause him any more pain?

“What makes you think that?” I sigh, relishing the sparks from our bond that zip through us. His color returns to his cheeks. no longer looking so gaunt as the sparks work as a painkiller for him

“There are certain ways someone can be spelled or enchanted to do whatever the spellcaster wants. Most species have a way to do it, but only two leave the host a shell of themselves when they are too far away from their caster. Meaning that when the others fled after the fight, they took the caster with them, also meaning that the person behind it all is a witch or a fae.”

I chew on my lips, processing what he is saying. Then I open my mouth to ask another question, but the door flies open. I turn to look at my father as he rushes in, Brent and Elm right behind him and Hayes bringing up the end. I step to the side, my hand sliding to Merikh’s hair, just to have a hand on him

“Hayes says you have an idea of whom to look for?” Brent asks hopefully and Merikh nods, his eyes looking glossy and dull as he grows more drained by the second.

“You should be in bed,” I remind him quietly and his eyes skirt in my direction, a hint of annoyance filtering through the bond between us and to smile. Sick and exhausted, and he still gets annoyed with me. That has to be a good sign, right?

I try

Caspian looks at Brent and Elm over his shoulder, both looking stunned as

begin to imagine who it would be on my end, but it is a

them all explicitly, but

see,” Caspian says, an unimpressed frown on his lips before he sighs. “Does anyone in

can only think of two.” Elm says, “the others have been silent on council matters.

to see if

traveled and when Brent says. “But try would

to break it and failed?” I ask him and he

that exists. There are ways around

the door and I look at Merikh, trying to decide if I should stay

with Brent–He says

him, and

to run. I promise you will be able to catch me with no issues–He says, making me chuckle out

He pauses, pushing it open for me to exit along with him. His willingness to take me only solidifies my thoughts that he is not working with the enemy, but that doesn’t mean

Merikh as he turns and speaks with my father, his eyes meeting mine as the door

is smart to keep an eye on me,” Brent

an eye on

trust me blindly either. There is

walk down the hall and take a right turn, heading

ask you a question, Colette?” He

I tell him and he thinks for a moment, either

of a hybrid has always excited me. What type of powers would they have? Would one species

off guard by his

that is. I adore the water, it makes me feel better. When I am away from it, I am weak, like Caspian seems to do as well. I can survive being away from it, but

He hums. He opens his mouth to ask another question but snaps it shut, choosing

I can manipulate the water, not like Caspian can, but still. Uh, I can also make it rain. from the water underground. My checks are pink with embarrassment, feeling like I am bragging or talking about myself too much,