Zephyrine


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    I push open the bedchamber of the inn we had rented and find him standing at the window, but as I step in, he turns to settle his gaze on me, waiting.


    “In half an hour, we continue.”


    He doesn’t respond with words, only nods and turns back silently, eyes fixed on the road, making me swallow hard.


    Lycannar. He’s unusually quiet tonight.


    He’s never much of a speaker, but I can feel something is wrong. I walk quietly toward him and hug him from behind, resting my head on his back.


    We arrived at the inn under the darkest sky. Riding without pause, we had decided to stop and catch a breath before continuing. At dawn, we would sneak into ckwater.


    “What’s going on, Lycan?” I finally ask softly from behind. “There’s something wrong with you. Tell me.”


    He doesn’t speak, but I feel his shoulder tense at my words, proving I’m right. Something is


    wrong.


    Slowly, he turns and holds me in his tender arms. I look up at him, my heart swelling in joy and contentment.


    “I know you’re not much of a speaker, but… this silence is unusual. I can feel you’re troubled.”


    He hears the concern in my voice and leans in to kiss my lips, soft and tender, before pulling back to search my eyes.


    “I don’t want to lose you,” he finally says quietly, making me swallow.


    *Lycan.”


    “I won’t lose you, Zephyrine. I won’t lose you to any of my past or any truth. I want you, and I will have you”


    My heart clenches. The way he says it, the way he holds me, that look in his eyes, raw and consuming, makes me forget how to breathe for a brief moment.


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    “Lycan…” I can only speak his name. Words fail me. I punch his chest lightly, almost tiredly. “Lycan…”


    He cuts me off, pulling me into his arms, holding me tenderly. His embrace makes me wonder how life would be without him. I can’t help but wonder why he loves me this much. Just this


    much.


    I look up and kiss him softly. His palm wraps around my waist, the other steady on my neck, and he stirs me gently, pinning me against the wall. <fn907c> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? find?novel</fn907c>


    His hand moves beneath my gown but pauses when it meets the leather gothic leggings I’m wearing underneath. He pulls back slightly to stare, a rough sound escaping his lips.


    “Is this a punishment, My Queen?”


    His husky voice and fierce eyes make me blush. I push him away, and he takes a step back, still staring.


    “We’re going into battle, My King,” I reply sarcastically. “Your lust will be satisfied when we get home.”


    He stares in silence, then swallows hard to steady himself before walking to the bed, lowering himself to watch me without blinking.


    I wore the dress as a fa?ade, but underneath I’m ready to move freely. I pull down the dress, revealing the gothic–styled attire beneath.


    I fasten my forearm braces and turn to braid my hair into a ponytail, finishing the end expertly.


    I walk to the saddlebag I removed from my horse and retrieve the knife and have it tucked into the side of my left boot.


    Ready, I turn to him. He’s still staring, silent.


    “Now, what’s the n, genius?” I ask, but he isn’t listening. His gaze lingers on my face, down to the swell of my cleavage.


    Lycannar doesn’t bother hiding his hunger, and I nearly giggle.


    “Lycannar!” I finally call, and he shifts his gaze to lock with mine.


    I shake my head, overwhelmed with emotion.


    “You’re not listening or answering.”


    :.


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    “It’s simple. When we get to ckwater, abduct a guard, beat him nearly to stupor to reveal the underground entrance, keys, and how many guards we’ll face. It’s going to be a massacre.”


    I go still. The case with which he says it sends goosebumps up my skin.


    “If we kill one of the soldiers guarding Varyn, the rest will be alerted unless…”


    “Unless?”


    “Unless I’m the bait.” He pauses, listening. “Stone of ckwater knows me. He expects me to return because I promised. How about a leave–offering like that? He wants my body, I act as if I ept…”


    “I’m not allowing any man to touch my woman. Another strategy, please.” I cut him off, and he pauses, augh threatening to escape me.


    “Lycan, why are you so possessive?”


    He leans against the wall, seated fully on the bed, staring at me in silence. I sigh, giving up.


    “All right, what suggestion will you bring?”


    He takes his time, weighing the pros and cons, then finally nods.


    “You’ll be the bait, but only once I’m fully in their territory. Here’s how. When we arrive, you stay behind. I go first. Guards at the gate?”


    “Yeah.”


    “He’s going to be unfortunate tonight because he dies by my hands,” he says quietly, serious. “I’ll extract the necessary information from him. Disguise might be needed, maybe as a guard to move freely for a bit.”


    “So you locate the soldiers guarding the underground, and then?” I ask.


    “That’s where youe in,” he says, voice heavy. “The hardest part. We lure them to you, away from me. I’ll handle your brother underground. You’ll be the bait. Lure them. The few left, I’ll


    take care of.”


    I hesitate, even though his idea is brilliant.


    “What if the soldiers aren’t lured? What if this n fails?”


    “Then we go with n B.”


    “And that is?”


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    “n A,” he replies, and I shake my head helplessly, melting into his arms to kiss him just as the neigh of our horses reminds us it’s dawn.


    I swallow and gently pull away. Even Lycannar isn’t smiling anymore. This is business. We understand the gravity of it.


    In no time, we check out of the inn, mount our horses, and ride without ckwater, where it all begins.