Traded To The Lycan King

Dean frowns, a heavy sigh escaping him as he places his hands on his hips and weighs what I have told him.

"And you think it's a good idea?" He asks, finally looking up.

"No, but I think it's our best option." I admit. "Is it ideal? No, not at all, but I'm trusting my instincts here."

He smirks, his cheek dimpling as he tries to hold back a chuckle.

"Forgive me for saying this, Hayes, but since I have known you, all your instincts have done is find us in fights, almost dying."

"That was anger. This is logic. It's obvious that what we have been doing isn't working, so we need to pivot. Find a better angle, a better plan, and I think this is the way to go." I admit. "Look, I know trust is hard past a certain extent with me. But if you could just afford me a little grace here, it would help—"

"I trust you." He says, cutting me off, the skin around his eyes wrinkling as his brows furrow. "What I need to know is that you can trust yourself."

My lips press together, and I look away, my gaze drifting to Kyra where she stands and stretches as the others wake everyone up. Can I trust myself when I don't even know what the hell to do about her? About this disgusting spring of hope flowing in my gut? I want her; I want a life with her, all the while knowing I deserve no such thing and I can't ever have it.

"That will be something I have to figure out along the way."

"Hmm," Dean mulls in thought, and I cross my arms over my chest, watching him.

"Hmm what?" I ask, and he looks at the others.

"You should at least take Marcos with you." He exhales. "Four is better than one."

"Marcos is a great fighter, but he will only cause tension. We already have tons of that with taking the dragon with us."

"Yo! You guys ready?" Koda hollers over to us. I give Dean a firm nod and he gives me a weak smile.

if all goes well, we will see you soon enough." He reaches out for my hand as I slap mine into

me soon. Just make sure you stick to the plan, okay? No letting people wander off and search for us." I say

see my brother..." I pause, swallowing the roughness in my throat, "Tell

widen, but instead of

"Sure thing."

down near my feet, swooping up two bags, mine and the one I prepared for Kyra. As I stride over to her, my heart thuds like a drum before going into war. I am putting my faith in her and her dragon friend to find Ezrah and get what we need. Knowing what I know now, I realize that the mission of just simply finding the egg is truly just

with me." I say, walking past them and into

don't utter a word, the two just following until we have walked far enough that Kyra clearly grows curious as she slides up next to me. My lip twitches up

I say, feigning

curious what the plan is." She shrugs like

until you pick up a scent or see something." I shrug and she cranes her head to

eyes narrowing as she picks

to a stop, turning to face

The others have gone to inform Merikh and Colette of who we have found and hopefully

think of our new..parasite." I say,

but

be

I will be able to take him

at the ground, her tongue pressing against her inner cheek as she tries to find

want me to steal the egg and run

Teiran says, his

us, one has fought fae before. It will be fine." I tease her and she glares at me, then her tongue darts out and licks her lip, wetting the plump rosy flesh. My lycan stirs, wanting to come forward and take

a fake laugh. "So happy you found