<i>Zephyrine </i>


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    I made my way towards the Lycan Kingdom throne chamber, my chest tightening. Princess Mearez had departed with only one word.


    “Come see me before you leave.”


    I knew she wanted to discuss my arm, and I swallowed hard at the thought of how Lycannar would feel if he ever found out.


    I passed the scroll back to Jurrek, who walked beside me, and said,


    “We’ll depart soon. Let me say my farewell to the King.”


    He nodded, and as we moved into the quieter, heavily guarded area, I slowed down..<fnba67> Follow current nov?ls on f?ndnovel</fnba67>


    Ahead stood the massive, imprable gate, and off to the side the courtyard opened wide. There, I spotted a carriage bearing the ckbridge crest, and another with the Hue Pack insignia.


    Without being told, I already knew they had arrived.


    “Isn’t that your carriage?” Jurrek pointed out, and I paused to stare. “The one His Majesty gifted you?”


    I raised an eyebrow.


    “Isn’t that the same one I was brought in, nights ago, after I passed out?”


    “No. You rode with the princesses in their carriage. I followed on horseback.”


    <b>I </b>sighed when the answer came. Then Dessyn was also here, in that case.


    Turning back towards the throne room, I resumed my steps, but Jurrek’s hand caught my arm, stopping<ol><li>me<i>. </i></li></ol>


    “Don’t you think it’s rude to just… walk in while a meeting is going on?”


    At that question, I smiled.


    “Watch this.”


    I walked up to the grand entrance and stood there as if waiting for the session to end. From that vantage, I could see the elders and guests gathered for questioning. But it was the King my eyes lingered on, and my heart constricted.


    He wasn’t seated on his throne. He wore no crown, and yet no one in the chamber could match the sheer force of aura he carried.


    Lycannar sat at the table, hands resting on the surface, eyes scanning a report. He looked almost bored, but I knew he missed nothing.


    Then his gaze lifted, pale gold eyes locking onto mine and in that instant, I realized what I hadpletely


    overlooked.


    Regret consumed me.


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    The Lycans were no cowards. The former King may have been cruel, but he had raised a great man. For that alone, I could forgive every sin he hadmitted.


    “Zephyrine.”


    My name left Lycannar’s lips softly as he rose and came forward to take my hand.


    “You okay?”


    He pulled me further into the chamber, and I fixed my gaze on his face, smiling gently. All that mattered was him. Only him.


    “I’m fine,” I answered softly. In response, he leaned down, brushing his lips over mine.


    He was the only one who pampered me, even knowing I was strong. He dominated me, and I loved it. Loved to submit, because he made me feel cherished, safe, whole.


    My eyes searched his beautiful features/those pale, piercing eyes, his plump lips, the thick eyebrows, and the two rings threaded into them.


    “You’re about to leave?” he asked, pulling me back to reality.


    I nodded.


    “Yes.” Then, on tiptoe, I pressed a kiss to his lips. “I enjoyed breakfast with your sisters.”


    “Yeah.” His hand caressed through my hair the way he always did, and I smiled, lost in love until a throat cleared, dragging me back to the present.


    I looked around and realized how many eyes were on us. Dessyn had been the one to clear her throat. Nyroth was present, as was Ka. Princess Serena gave me a small, knowing smile, and I returned it. The elders looked on, so I bowed respectfully.


    “Lycan,” I said, turning back to the King. “My beta, meet Jurrek.”


    Jurrek Bane stepped forward, bowing before Lycannar. I stood aside to watch, expecting Lycannar to dismiss him with a nce. But instead, he did something I never imagined.


    He offered his hand.


    Jurrek, clearly startled, bowed lower before shaking it.


    “Lycannar,” the King said. “Or Apex. Whichever you prefer.”


    “Jurrek, Your Majesty.”


    Jurrek straightened, nodding, and Lycannar’s voice was steady.


    “I should thank you for standing with me on my coronation day, when the Rogue Alpha stormed my kingdom.”


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    “I did nothing, sire. You needn’t thank me.”


    “I appreciate your kindness to Zephyrine. Thank you for caring for her.”


    Jurrek nodded.


    “Please, don’t mention it. I made a promise to her brother, that’s all. She is like a sister to me.”


    My chest swelled with love and gratitude. Lycannar had shown my beta respect, and it had been reciprocated. He was a King, but still my man.


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    When his eyes returned to me, he held them there for a moment before taking my fingers tenderly.


    “Before you leave, please… attend to an issue as my Queen,” he said, right there in the throne room.


    The chamber stilled.


    A bold deration in broad daylight, with his elders present, his beta there. What was he trying to do?


    “Lycannar…”


    “Please,” he interrupted softly, entwining his fingers with mine. “It won’t take long. Hmm?”


    I sighed helplessly. Why was it possible for a man to be so terrifyingly powerful and yet so gentle?


    I nodded, and he guided me into the chair he had just vacated. He pressed a kiss to my temple, then stepped back, folding his arms and leaving the floor to me.


    My throat tightened. He was asking me to rule, to speak,mand, and decide for his kingdom as his Queen.


    It would be the first time in history. A werewolf presiding in the Lycan throne chamber.


    Nervousness coiled in me, but so did something stronger. Inevitability.


    Whether I wanted it or not. Whether the Moon Goddess approved or not. Lycannar had tasted me, and now he wanted all of me, until there was nothing left.


    This was a deration. The beginning.


    I had asked the Orincess earlier if Lycannar was truly a warrior. His sisters had answered, and their words weighed heavy now.


    “He’s fought more battles than you could ever count,” Princess Mearez had said. “The runes on his body was a spell to help him find peace for ughtering so many. Hemands his own army, not vast, not more than enough to fill an arena, yet they return victorious, always. No one can stop him unless he wills it. That’s why Father feared him, why he shackled him with restraints, with the ck Tower, with chains and use us, his sisters, to weaken him. Even the Moon Goddess herself, his foremother, is wary of him. Lycannar is a warlord. On the battlefield, they call him Apex. Apex Blood.”