Traded To The Lycan King

Kyra slows down, reaching into a hollow trunk and yanking out a shirt she throws over her body. A sense of relief washes over me, knowing I won't have to avert my eyes anymore. Running after my brother is hard enough with a burning hand and no clothes. The last thing I need is an erection trying to follow behind the woman. I can't wait to get my hands on.

"Here," she says, tossing a pair of shorts at me.

I look at them, leaning down to slip my legs through, struggling with my useless hand. Before I can even yank them up my legs, Kyra is at my side, reaching for the other side as she tugs them up my body. I blink at her, shock written all over my face as she gives me a soft smile.

"You know, I could have done it on my own." I tell her before clearing my throat. Why is her simple action making me so choked up?

"But you don't have to anymore." She tilts her head before she takes my good hand and takes two steps backward, tugging me along. "Let's move."

I nod, following her lead, trusting her skills as she releases me and starts to move fast again. My speed increases, though I intentionally give her the space she needs to do what she needs to track effectively. I know Merikh is alive. I can feel him in my mind from time to time. A sigh here or there, something he is giving me without needlessly saying anything.

No doubt he is busy arguing with his mate through the mind link while trying to keep tabs on the rest of the pack and what is happening. But it doesn't ease the growing tension in my chest. If anything happens to him or his family, I will never forgive myself. How could I when this is all a direct result of my selfish actions? And yet...as I watch Kyra, I can't bring myself to regret it, not yet anyway.

A roar rips through the trees ahead and my heart skips to my throat as I sprint, moving as fast as I can straight toward it. Kyra is nowhere to be seen, but I know she is somewhere hidden, watching and weighing options as a true tracker and warrior would. Not far ahead, I can see a large beast pacing, taking trees out with its massive frame, as if trying to eradicate the forest.

"You truly think I would have led you to where my children are? Where we shelter those who need it most in times of war? Come now, you can't be that dense. Or has it been that long since you have led your kind wisely that you forgot we protect our people at all costs?" I hear Merikh's voice loud as if he is making sure we can find him.

The dragon roars, the trees behind Merikh swaying from the ferocity of it and yet he remains unmoved. Instead of showing any sign of fear, my big brother, my alpha, sticks his hands in his pockets and chuckles. Then he shakes his head and looks up at him. "I don't fear you or your flames." He grinds out, taking a menacing step forward. "Do your worst."

Merikh rolls his shoulders back, pride taking over his face as he grins up at the dragon who rears his head back and releases a stream of unrelenting flames.

"NO!" I roar out, tearing through the trees and trying to throw myself between my brother and the flames.

A cold wave of water strikes me in the face, shooting me back as I crash into something soft and warm. I scramble to jump up but hands wrap around me and I whip around, ready to fight until the sparks tear through me and I see Kyra holding her side. "Get over here," Colette's voice rings out as she steps up next to Merikh.

How the hell did she get here so fast?

you." She hisses, causing Kyra to

up my arm and into my chest, mingling with the pleasure of the sparks of the mate bond. I wince, looking away, not wanting her to let go all while my insides are screaming for her to do exactly that. She suddenly releases me and I look at her, worry in her eyes before something catches her attention and she looks across the destroyed area

over there."

of water that is the barrier between the fire from the

scoff, and she hums to herself

more of a

to question her further as

to save me, little bro." He winks, and

to fuck around, Merikh. In case you didn't notice, I don't exactly have a great history with dragons, so can we kill this fucker and be done with it?" I remind him, lifting my arms to show him the scars that lick up my side and up into my neck and face. "The longer we wait, the longer war rages back in the

bicep as it worms its way onto my hand, soothing the burns that I know will take at least part of my fingers. I can't help but groan in relief, the pain now just a dull ache as the nerves grow numb and the water colder. "The deeper she draws the water from the earth, the cooler it is," Merikh

as I glare at him. Certain death lies on the other side of that wall Colette has created and yet, he smiles as if he has no fear. His trust in Colette's powers has grown substantially, but that doesn't give him the right to act this cocky. "What is the plan?" I ask him, and he furrows his brow. "Do we plan to hide behind Colette all this time, or are

brow in amusement before he

do for now?" He asks me and I

I search the ground and don't find her. It brings me a tiny amount of relief until I see her signature red head, blurred from

fuck is she doing?" I mutter

from next to me and I shoot daggers at him with my

I supposed to save her from all the way over here?"

at me, looking back at Colette before

brother, but form your hand and how you weren't in

am fine," I tell him, eye forward as I crouch, preparing to launch into my lycan and take chunks out of this

my brows, confused by the question. Is he insinuating there is some

would think." I grit out and

asks and I nod. "Colette, regain your strength and

hear the emotion in her voice that is telling