Traded To The Lycan King

"Tiago," Kyra whispers, closing the gap between him and her before she crouches down to his height. He giggles, a joy in his eyes that I have often seen reserved for Christmas mornings.

"Hot." He smiles so widely his cheeks dimple and she gently places her hand on his arm.

"Yeah buddy," she agrees, the flames now circling the two of them as sweat dots her brow. "But it's too hot for mama. It hurts mama, and Hayes and everyone else here."

His little brows furrow, and I have no idea if he understands what she is saying. How much can someone who skips years in a day really comprehend? Then he tilts his head to the side, his eyes meeting mine, then he frowns.

The flames drift toward me as if floating on an invisible boat across the ocean waves. As they get closer, the heat grows and I lift my arm to block my face, the sting of my burns on my arm growing more painful by the second. I hiss and wince and suddenly the flames disappear and Tiago drops to the ground on his butt, sadness in his eyes.

"Dada, hurt?" He says as his little lips pull together and quiver.

My heart breaks in two, my chest aching as I try to understand this awakening in me that wants to cry at hearing that title from his mouth.

"I'm okay, Tiago," I saw, my voice hoarse as I swallow the emotions swimming through me. Kyra looks at me with a tiny, knowing smile on her lips as she feels what I am feeling through our one sided bond. I can see her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"He just needs to see a healer," Colette says softly, moving over to Tiago and grinning at him. "You know, I bet my kids would love to see you again, and maybe play some fun games."

He lights up, a typical kid forgetting the thing that was just on their mind when the mention of playing comes up. I can't help but chuckle at his excitement as he jumps up and nods his head.

"Mama will come find you after I take dada to see the healer." Kyra tells him as he grips Colette's hand. Steam rises between their skin and they both look at it in shock before Colette giggles and he does, too.

"Kyra, you should go with him." I say and she gives me a look, one telling me that she will not be doing what I say at all.

Colette assures me. "If anything, he is safer with me

my leg as he tries to keep me from jostling around too much. It takes effort to hide my pain from Kyra, but I mask the pain

from my dry lips as I settle in, my muscles aching as my head rests back on the soft pillow. Spark rush through my body from my hand racing up toward my shoulder before spreading out through my chest and to every nerve ending in my body. I turn to look at Kyra

table next to him. "The best we can do is ease the pain. I know I don't have to tell you

am well aware." I say, gritting

Every drag, no matter how gentle, feels like a dagger digging down

before lifting his eyes to meet mine. My lips press together tightly, unimpressed by

that last time." I remind him,

my eyes. "The extent of the damage is far worse than the last time, Hayes. I fear you will lose

I ask him. "That

some type of leaves and then elastic band. When he

Kyra asks, and I give her hand a

It will heal." I remind her. She knows this, but the worry on

The healer admits, his hands pressing

grind out, forcing my head back into the pillow as I try to breathe through my

to a lump in my thigh, pressing down as I grunt out. "Is a snapped femur, Hayes. I will need to set it and you will not be able to move

at that. It will heal much faster than that." I say with confidence. "Plus I

grins, shaking her head at

sure he doesn't move a muscle." She promises the healer. "And I will be sure to mark him,

look over at Kyra, watching as she nibbles her bottom lip shyly. I can sense the way she wants to make the full bonde happen. Simply marking each

rises in my throat, burning its way up into my mouth as the bitter flavor coats