<i>Lycannar </i>


    21%


    Finished


    I finished dressing, adjusting the brace on my forearm when Zephyrine finally called in her maids. An elderly woman and three youngerdies entered, bowing low.


    I could feel their gazes on me, but I didn’t look their way. Didn’t spare them a nce. My focus stayed on my brace, though I already knew what lingered in their minds.


    They had seen theirdy and me this morning, giving oral pleasure to one another. That wasn’t against my foremother’s decree, and I could only smirk at how I’d found a way past hermand to starve me of love.


    “I will get dressed now,” Zephyrine said to her maids, snapping them out of staring at me and back to her.


    I had never done this before. I mean slept over in a werewolf pack. I had spent nights in the Demon Realm, yes, but never outside shifter empires packs.


    As Zephyrine headed to dress, I caught her wrist and pulled her back to me. She was still naked, soft and tempting, her body a lure I could never resist. We had made love again, and still it felt like I wanted her all over. It was as if I could never get enough.


    I leaned in to kiss her, catching sight of her maids averting their eyes from the corner of mine. I kissed her again, then trailed my lips down her neck and along the swell of her breast. Tenderly, I took one nipple into my mouth and sucked. She moaned softly, holding onto me, and I released her atst, already knowing she was wet again.


    “I can’t get enough of you,” I whispered.


    Against my lips, she murmured back


    “I can’t get enough of you either.”


    We kissed once more before I left her side and moved to the window. Folding my arms across my chest, I gazed out over the packnds and beyond to the walls.


    Somehow, I could feel it. War. It wasing.


    I was deep in thought when I heard the sharp snap of her voice.


    “Will you focus on dressing me up? And why are you staring at him?”


    I nearly smiled. She was scolding her maids for staring at me.


    “Sorry, mydy. He’s just…” one of them started but faltered, silenced under Zephyrine’s re.


    My gods. I sighed inwardly. She wouldn’t allow any woman room in my life. And I understood. I wouldn’t allow any man into hers either. She was bound to me, for life.


    From the window, I spotted Mearez walking with Serena, Baron speaking alongside them. My sisters. They had never learnedbat. While I fought in wars, they had been left at my father’s mercy, his entertainment. And by entertainment, I meant rape.


    GO


    21%


    Finished


    I swallowed hard at the cold memories. I had not protected them well enough. Even after strangling my father with my own hands, I still felt he deserved worse than death. But his soul would never find peace. I made sure of that when I left him at exactly where he hated most.


    “Mydy?” The door opened gently, then paused when Blue stepped in. I felt her gaze on my back before she bowed. “My king.”


    I turned and looked at her. Young. Beautiful. Of the ones under my care, she had grown well.


    I didn’t speak, only turned back to the window. She approached Zephyrine.


    “Mydy, your aunt requests a breakfast with your man.”


    I stilled at that. Her man?


    “She means the King. Lycannar?” Zephyrine asked.


    “Yes, Mydy.”<fn9019> Original content can be found at </fn9019>


    A soft sigh escaped Zephyrine’s lips, and when I turned, she was rolling her eyes before ncing at me, her gaze rounded with apology.


    “Lycan… should I say yes? I can make an excuse. What do you think?”


    I didn’t answer right away. Every eye was on me, even her maids, still staring as if I were some rare and precious artifact.


    “Is she good to you?” I finally asked.


    Zephyrine swallowed.


    “Yes. She is good.”


    “Then I have no reason to refuse her invitation.” I said and Zephyrine nodded.


    “Blue, tell her I wille for breakfast. And inform my beta I wish to see him.”


    “Yes, mydy,” she replied, and left. My heart swelled quietly at the bond already forming between her and Zephyrine.


    Minutester, as Zephyrine finished dressing, Blue returned.


    “The beta waits at the door.”


    “Let him in,” Zephyrine said, rising to receive him.


    The door opened, and Jurrek entered. The man who had earned my respect the moment I first looked into his eyes and saw his sorrow. His life, his loyalty, were bound to the Ashmeres. He lived for them. He would die for them. That was why I respected him. Why I had extended him a handshake when I gave none to others.


    He bowed to me at the window. I nodded in response, then he turned fully to Zephyrine, ready to hear why he had been summoned.


    ??


    21%


    Finished


    “There’s something important you need to know Jurrek. I have found those who betrayed Ashmeres on the battlefield but before that you will need to read some letters.”