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

not flying this time,

I offer, moving over to him as I hook my arm in the crook of his elbow. He looks down at me, his height now a good four inches higher than my own. "You know, to avoid the

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, since I was old enough to

just how scared I am 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

at a tear as I chuckle. "Ugh, I'm such a mess. My first baby is leaving me."

I will be around more than

Teiran to let you stay 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 throne. Hayes has always

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

for choosing us." I say the words, a hoarse whisper as the tears well up again in my eyes. "Being your mom

me just as much as I chose you. I was an infant. Imprinting on you was life or death for me, but you loving me from the moment you saw me? That was braver than anything I could do." Then he reaches out and dries my tears with the sleeve of his coat.

as I nod and sob, wrapping my arms around him

and you are getting my coat all

not like you will

and away from me. I stand there until he is long out of sight

is going to do great things." He says with such sincerity I can't

Dylan, Harmony and him, I dare

He

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

damn time."

years." I remind them and spin to 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

lets out a bark of laughter and

at least in

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

off. Hayes looks worried, taking two steps forward before I grab his

love. I feel like

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

didn't leave us," He says, stroking my cheek. "Tiago is

not seeing my baby boy every day. No making him breakfast or watching him race around with his siblings. "I am going to miss him so much." "Then we miss him together, with Zeke and Claire,