<i>Lycannar </i>


    Footsteps sounded down the hall. I heard the living–room door appear in the threshold of my bedchamber, looking at me.


    +10 Free Coins


    open and my sister Serena


    “Uhm… baby brother, dinner is ready,” she said, but I didn’t answer. My eyes lingered on her for what felt like an eternity. I had gone mute after leaving the throne chamber earlier today; my people had gone quiet around me.


    The night traders closed early. The maids went to bed almost at once and the night guards were less active than usual.


    I wondered why. Are they also sad because the king is? I couldn’t be sure. The one thing I was certain of is that my uncle Dareth would never doubt my words again while he lived. Nor would Baron ever ask for my crown or the royal seal.


    “I will… I am not hungry, Serena,” I finally replied when I saw her waiting. Concern flickered across her face and then hardened into anger, as usual.


    “Mearez?!” she called, summoning our eldest. It didn’t take long before Mearez appeared at Serena’s side in the doorway.


    “What’s wrong? Will you calm down?” she asked.


    “Please,” Serena fretted. “Why is he not eating? He hasn’t taken a meal since morning, and I doubt he ate back at Ash Pack.” <fnc9ac> For more chapters visit </fnc9ac>


    Mearez looked at me gently. She knew I was still reeling from the argument with Uncle Dareth.


    “Lycannar, why don’t youe to the small dining room to eat? Please?” she urged.


    Before I could answer, Serena grunted impatiently.


    “I’ll tell my brother Hades. He’ll know what to do and I know he’s like this because he’s the youngest. That’s why he’s sulking.”


    “Will you calm down, Serena?” Mearez coaxed, helping her steady her breath. Then Mearez turned to me and sighed. “I’ll bring your meal. You must eat, Lycannar. Do you understand?”


    I nodded and looked away. She left and returned with tes I get up to ept, setting them on the table but leaving them covered for now.


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    “Thank you,” I murmured. Mearez smiled warmly and walked away, but Serena lingered a moment longer, muttering under her breath in regret.


    “I should have gouged out that evil uncle Dareth’s eyes for making my baby brother sad like this,” she hissed.


    I couldn’t help the small, weak smile that tugged at me. She looked at me once, satisfied I’d softened, then left, taking their warmth with her.


    After they departed I sat in silence, staring into space, lonely again. Alone and sad. A man who belonged nowhere. That was me.


    I was lost in the thought when the gate to the kingdom sounded open. Curious, I walked to the corridor and peered down. and there she was. Zephyrine. She alighted from her carriage, dressed beautifully, and I lowered my gaze, swallowing hard.


    An illusion, I told myself. She would nevere here. She might nevere again; I had pushed my luck by asking for her hand. Who in their right mind would ept a cursed man, the prisoner of this ck tower as a husband?


    A chill settled over me until soft hands wrapped my shoulders from behind. I froze. Chantel could enter the chamber, but he’d never held me like this. Only she could.


    I turned slowly. It wasn’t an illusion.


    She was here real, warm. I reached up and touched her cheek; it was alive beneath my hand. Her eyes lifted to mine like she was the only source of light.


    “Zephyrine?” I whispered, praying this moment was not a dream.


    She smiled.


    “Lycannar,” she breathed, leaning into my arms, her head settling on my chest. Instantly the doubts, the sorrow, the loneliness… all of it eased. Shepleted something in me.


    “Zephyrine…” I pulled her back a little to look into her eyes. “You are here? I thought it wasn’t


    real.”


    She nodded, calm and sure.


    “I came to tell you something,” she said, and I went still. What could she possibly say? Had her brother recovered enough to reveal some bitter truth? “It’s about your proposal, Lycannar.”


    My palms sweated though the air was cool. I took a step back, breath catching.


    17:19 <b>Thu</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b>18 <b>J </b>


    “Yeah?<b>” </b>


    :


    Her next words cut into me, words I would never forget.


    <i>& </i>


    <b>57 </b>


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    “I want to marry you too, Lycannar. I want you to be my husband. I want <i>to </i>live with you in this ck tower.”


    I stood frozen. I must not be hearing correctly. Did she just..


    “I became an Alpha to find my brother. Now he is here. He will recover and take the Alpha seat that was meant for him alone. Retiring from everything… I would like to relocate here <i>to </i>give you what you asked for, Lycannar. The rest of my life… I also wish to live it as yourwfully wedded wife.” She search my eyes to drop it. “But I can’t because… I can’t give you heir or heiress<b>.</b>”


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