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.

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

out from behind

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

moving to his hips as

egg doesn't just break, not on its own or by

chest heaves in

him, my brows furrowing

flying in between us, a warning in his body language as he seems to grow in height, his frame shielding me. "Why the fuck would we

the shell," I rush out, pulling it from the little blanket with the baby. "Look

together as they move wildly as if he is fighting with himself. Then he drags

hesitant step toward him, my chest 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

I stutter 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 to awe as

the little baby finally stirring as what looks like embers seem to glow in his veins. Teiran does the same, like a fuse lit and traveling toward the bomb. Hayes grabs my hand, pulling me back as I fight him off, not wanting to

isn't

I 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

fragile thing sate

Teiran tries to kill the

argue with him, pushing him off as I keep my eyes on the little flaming lights dancing over their bodies. But Hayes

too hot for us." He

them as they burst into a flame

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," he murmurs over and over before he finally

want to see." I murmur, shaking

He grabs my face in both of his hands, forcing me to look in his