Traded To The Lycan King

It feels like a dream, the way we glide to the stage in utter silence swimming in the stifling tension between us. My hands sweat, and my pulse races as we climb the stairs and he turns me to face him. Teiran smiles, but it's not a true smile that says everything is going to

In order to escape his gaze, I look out at the crowd, my eyes finding Hayes as if he were a beacon. He watches me, a soft tilt to his perfect lips, showing me a glimpse of a tiny smile. My body physically aches to be with him, my very nerves pinging as if an alarm is blaring an incoming attack. When will he make his move? What is his move? "Kyra?" I hear my name being called that sounds so far away and I twist my head back to Teiran.

"Hmm?" I hum before I realize he has started the ceremony and his two hands are outstretched for me to take. He nods to them and lifts a brow, trying to tell me to take them without verbalizing the command.

I lift my arms, my fingers quivering in protest as I hover my hands over his. The heat from his skin radiates up as if I am warming myself over an open flame and suddenly I feel weak, overheated, and lost. I linger for a moment before I allow my eyes to fall closed, and I draw in a shaky breath, releasing a steady one. My heart is resolved. "No," I whisper, dropping my hands to my side, and taking a half step back.

"Kyra," He hisses, reaching out and taking my hands by force. "Let Hayes make a scene. Just go with this for as long as you can."

But I can tell he is hoping Hayes doesn't interrupt, and when I look back out at the crowd again, Hayes is gone. I narrow my eyes, my lip twitching in disgust as he reads my reaction.

"If he is not here, it is not my doing." He whispers as low as he can, before he clears his throat and chuckles lightly, looking out at all our spectators from all types of species. "She is nervous about our 'after' affairs."

me.

He teases us about mating in a way that makes my stomach twist as a chuckle erupts from the dragon's side; the others looking as unamused as I feel. His father sits in the front, looking content as a clam, holding Tiago who continues to struggle to get away and come to "Kyra, before you I stand, the heir to the dragon throne and a beast willing to promise you a life of loyalty and love..."

Love, he wants to promise me love, yet he tries to tear me from the only man who can give it to me. I chuckle, ignoring his words, and reach up to touch my forehead.

"Love?" I scoff, lifting my eyes to meet his.

word and I chuckle to myself again as the door flies open. A very stunning and pissed off Flora stands in the doorway, her arms crossed over

she struts toward us, flipping her hair over

is just walking by

not bothering to hide how she looks him up and down from

side as she gives me a gentle hip

the fuck are you doing?" he

wouldn't come for you?" "What?" I ask, feigning shock and horror as I clasp my hands over my mouth, mostly to hide the growing smile. It feels awful to admit that after everything happened, I had forgotten about her and what might have happened to her. "Please don't be mad, I know your mate is here too and for your kind, to give up your mate-" She rattles off her words faster than I can even understand as Teiran's dad stomps up the steps

his skin turning red. "Get your ass removed from the stage or become ash!

frame towering over me as he puffs

choice is yours. Just know

say, rolling my shoulders back, finding my strength as Flora backs me

there any truth to what Flora said? Or has she planted the thought in his head and now he is thinking about her in an entirely different way?

Hayes' voice says, a hint of shock twisted with amusement. "The one you

of the stage, his hands tucked in his

comes

war with the wrong species all this time." Alpha Merikh

you hatched him before he was due and imprinted him on your warrior. Let's not pretend

perpetrator in your midst in your mountain, unless of course you

cheeks before a snout the size of Merikh pops out. My eyes grow wide in shock as Hayes grabs my hand, yanking me away from the stage. In