Traded To The Lycan King

"Are you sure you know where you are going?" I ask Hayes for the one millionth time over the last three days.

His muscles are tense, every step making them flex as if he is in pain. He has taken minimal breaks, stopping only to allow me to stretch my legs. The baby has slept, not a single peep, no food, no wet or poopy britches.

"Yes, Kyra." He says, not a hint of anger or annoyance as I look up at his exhausted face.

"I can walk now, Hayes. You don't have to carry me anymore. It's been three whole days."

He scans the area in front of us, saying nothing as his jaw clenches and he tightens his arms on me. I turn my head, looking for what he seems to see: a quick movement in the dense leaves and a shift in the wind. I try to allow myself to smell the air, but all I can scent is Hayes and the somehow almost comatose dragon baby in my arms.

"Someone is here." I murmur, low enough only for him to hear. He skirts his eyes to me, a curious glance before he stops, and lowers me down gently.

"I can sense them, but I can't see them." He mutters, keeping both hands on my waist as he tugs me close to him like he is fearful someone might try to take me from him.

"To your left, it's too dense in here for a breeze yet, the trees sway and the leaves move." I tip my chin in the direction and he gently pulls me behind him, one hand reaching around his back and resting on me.

"Come on out." Hayes demands, his tone a threat and far from a request.

A dark figure takes a few steps toward us, pausing just as I recognize his frame. I press my hand to Hayes' back, leaning in gently.

"It's Teiran." I tell him, but his muscles don't relax, his protective demeanor unchanged, which surprises me. "Hayes."

"You guys covered decent ground." Teiran says, stepping closer to us, a curious glint in his eyes as he tilts his head, looking at Hates. "Though you both look like shit."

"How long did it take for you to find us?" Hayes asks.

very long. I spent a day or two with your brother and Colette, trying to make sense of Ezrah and his

peeking out from behind Hayes' shoulder, still shielding

The messenger boy even cried and then tried to kill himself for failing to protect the child." Teiran scoffs. "Clearly, he doesn't realize how resilient a dragon egg is, tougher than rocks." Hayes looks over at me, a message in his eyes as he flicks them down to where the baby is. Something happened to hatch the dragon boy, be it the egg breaking or it being ready to come out, but what does it mean that he has been born? "What happens if it does?" I whisper,

his hips

doesn't just break, not on

and the baby. I watch Teiran's eyes blink and grow wider with every passing second. His chest heaves in disbelief before he breaks into a dry chuckle. "I don't fucking believe this shit." he shakes his head and then drags his large hand over his

tell him, my brows furrowing in

dragon wants to emerge. I take a step backward, Hayes flying in between us, a warning in his body language as he seems to grow in

of the shell," I rush out, pulling it from the little blanket with

himself. Then he drags his hands through his hair and, with caution, places it out for

feeling tight as I give it to him and he lifts it to his nose, dragging it along his face. An unearthly rumble emits from his chest as he shakes his head and opens his eyes, looking at the baby asleep in my arms, confused. "How the hell...?" He murmurs, looking at Hayes for a moment before he takes a step closer, his arms outstretched

out, my heart fluttering in disappointment as I lift the little bundle and hand him over to his older brother. Teiran's face changes from confusion

like a fuse lit and traveling toward the bomb. Hayes grabs my hand, pulling me back as I fight him off, not wanting to leave

know he isn't mine. That isn't

didn't birth him, but I held him for days, cuddled him, and cared for him since the moment he came out. There is a bond there, a desire to want

little fragile thing sate

What if Teiran tries to kill the

as I keep my eyes on the little flaming lights dancing over their bodies. But Hayes

us." He grunts, breaking into

heat!" I roar, reaching for them as they burst

lips as Hayes slams me into the base of a large tree, his massive body covering mine as heat blasts past us. I try to stop the crying, holding him tight as I bury my head into his chest. "It's okay, I've got you,"

I murmur, shaking my tear-stained

live and breathe fire." He grabs my face in both of his hands, forcing me to