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

woman from the woods, have stopped eating and talking. He says, looking around. Caspian looks at Brent and Elm over

through his short, dark hair. “I can’t begin to imagine who it would be on my end, but it is a possibility, yes,” Elm admits. Brent frowns and

trust them all explicitly, but that does

unimpressed frown on his lips before he sighs. “Does anyone in particular come to

two.” Elm says, “the others have been silent on

try to see if I can break what curse has

Brent says. “But try would like to

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

kind that exists. There are ways around spells without

Caspian says to Brent. He moves toward the door and I look at Merikh, trying to

Brent–He says through

sure?— I ask him, and

if I try to run. I promise you will be able to catch me with no issues–He says,

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

he turns and speaks

to keep an eye on me,” Brent says, shocking

saying I need to keep an eye on you?” I

me blindly

exhaling slowly as we walk down the hall and take a right turn, heading to

I ask you a question,

a moment, either thinking

hybrid has always excited me. What type of powers would they have? Would one species be more dominant than the

caught off guard by his excitement, and I shake my

about myself. My abilities, 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 I am prone to human sickness

mouth to ask another question but snaps it

learning what I am capable of. 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