Traded To The Lycan King

"Mom!" Tiago groans, annoyed, as he pushes my hand away and rolls his eyes. I smile at him softly, shaking my head at him.

"You had ash on your shoulder." I tell him, and he frowns.

"Because I was practicing with Dylan again," he says in true teenage form.

"Okay, okay!" I put my hands up in fake defense, stepping away. "I will back off."

"Sorry," He mutters as he drags a hand down his perfect olive skin tone. "I'm just...do I have to go? Can't I stay here a few more years?"

My heart breaks as I bite my lip, trying to keep the tears from spilling from my eyes. It's been a solid week of sobbing since Teiran sent word that he wanted Tiago ready to come back and that he wanted Hayes and me to accompany as proxy of the Lycan kingdom. But we won't be going for a few more days, as Tieran wants time alone with his brother.

"You love visiting Teiran," I remind him. "And besides, it's not like you can't just fly back when you miss me and dad and want a hug."

"It's not you and dad I'd be coming back to visit," he teases and I scoff at him.

"Seriously? You'll come back to hang out with your cousins, but your dad and I are chopped liver?" "Please, it's not them he will be missing. It's this little princess." Hayes says, entering the room holding Claire, our redheaded, green eyed, four-year-old monster. Tiago's eyes light up and he brushes past me with a smirk as he rushes over and puts his arms out for her.

"There's my baby sister!" he grins, tossing her up as she giggles and holds onto him tight.

"Wow. I see your whole 'I have no favorites' was a straight up lie," Zeke frowns, leaning in the doorway. Tiago shakes his head and looks at his fifteen-year-old brother and then he walks over and ruffles his hair. "She is the princess," Tiago reminds Zeke, who rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah I know."

"Tiago, you have everything you need, right?" Hayes asks, admiring our three kids as they turn their attention to him.

"Yeah," He nods.

"When will you be back?" Zeke asks, looking away as he tries to hide the disappointment on his face. "As soon as I can get away to come visit." He responds. Then he drops a kiss on Claire's freckled cheek and sets her down.

"Can you stay longer?" Claire asks in her little high-pitched toddler voice, her eyes wide as tears stream down her face.

"Not this time, firefly," he says, squatting down and tugging at her little strands of hair. "But I promise to visit a lot, okay?"

"Can you bring me a present too?" She whispers, and I exhale.

course I will." He tells her before he

this time, I really

the door." I offer, moving over to him as I hook my arm in the crook of his elbow. He looks down at me, his

witches and the magical contract that is in place. No dragon enters their territory and they don't use their magic to harm or possess anyone. I've been told about it for over the last twelve years,

for him. Tiago, a dragon and creature of chaos, somehow turned out to be the sweetest, most compassionate person I have ever met. What if something breaks him? What if he loses sight of who he

such a mess. My first baby is leaving me." He reaches out, placing his hand over mine,

will be around more than enough

with us longer..." I say hopefully, knowing full

why Tiago is taking so long to grow up and hit the median age so he can take over the

that aren't bits of Giselle, the phoenix who mothered him. He has always had that need to be approved of, the constant want and need for validation and love. I feel getting that from us and kids his own age is what led to him wanting the normal life we could provide him. "Mom," He says, slowing down as he turns to face me. "I know I act hesitant, but I think I am ready to learn, and with Teiran finally settling down with Flora as a chosen mate, it's nice to give him that

hoarse whisper as the tears well up again in

was life or death for me, but you loving me from the moment you saw me? That was braver than anything

mouth as I nod and sob, wrapping my arms around him

"I have to go and you are getting

it's not like you will get

he walks off, out the doors and away from me. I stand there until he is long out of sight and arms wrap around me from behind. Hayes' chin rests on my shoulder as he tugs me to his chest and

says with such sincerity

and him, I dare say we will be entering a long-standing era of peace at long last."

He asks, and Merikh

past years ago, Hayes. Vampires may be creepy, lurking in the dark and all that, but I dare say the fear they

damn time." Hayes

look at Hayes and Merikh. "Quiet and peace aren't the same thing. We have had quiet, not peace, not yet. That is what comes after the fear subsides and the pain of the

of laughter and shakes

at least in all

brother." Then he shakes his head his eyes growing dark before he clears his throat. "Uh, excuse me, it

looks worried, taking two steps forward before I grab his wrist and

requires you, my love. I feel like it's a mate

A look of concern over his face. "How are you holding up?" I shrug, "As well as I can.

He says, stroking my cheek. "Tiago is just living his life

around with his siblings. "I am going to miss him