A Luna for the Lycan King


    My heart pounded as I rushed through the castle corridors, the stone walls a blur of gray in my peripheral vision. Darren''s scent lingered in the air where he had passed through earlier, teasing me, drawing me forward like an invisible thread connecting us. I needed to see him, to feel his strong arms around me, to lose myself in those piercing green eyes. To make sure everything was okay between us. The ache in my chest grew deeper with each step, a physical manifestation of my longing. The only thing helping was knowing I would see him in just a few moments.


    I rounded a corner, my pace quickening, when arge hand mped down on my shoulder.


    I gasped as I was spun around,ing face to face with Ivan''s imposing figure. His golden eyes bore into mine, his expression


    stern.


    "Slow down there, little queen,” he rumbled, his deep voice echoing off the stone walls. "Darren''s upied with urgent matters and can''t be disturbed right now."


    I opened my mouth to protest, but the words died on my lips as I watched Ivan''s eyes soften, his grip on my shoulder loosened


    slightly.


    "I know you want to see him," he continued, gentler now. "But there''s a lot going on. War''s brewing, and he''s got to be ready."


    I nodded, swallowing hard against the lump in my throat. "I understand. I just... I wanted to make sure he was alright." And


    Ivan''s expression softened further, a flicker of sympathy crossing his rugged features. "I know. He''s hurting, but he''ll be okay. Everything''s happening at such an intense time."


    I forced a smile, trying to push down the worry gnawing at my insides. "I understand." I lied. Deep down, I couldn''t help but feel it was more than that. Darren always put me first, and he had to know by the look in my eyes that I was feeling vulnerable, too. And yes, I know I sound selfish and insecure right now.


    As I turned to leave, Ivan''s gruff voice stopped me. "Hey, Allissa? He''lle find you as soon as he can. You know that, right?"


    I nodded, not trusting my voice, and continued down the corridor. The stone walls seemed to close in around me, and I fought against the rising tide of insecurity threatening to overwhelm me. I couldn''t shake the nagging fear that Darren was pulling away. Even after the moment we''d just had together earlier ... what just happened with his mother might have changed things.


    My heart raced, memories of my ex-mate''s betrayal shing unbidden through my mind. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to ward off the chill that had nothing to do with the castle''s stone walls. I knew I needed to trust the bond, but after -being betrayed before, I couldn''t help but think it would happen again. Would I ever be able to erase what Alfred did to me? Damn, I hated the way I was feeling.


    "And we''re back to being forlorn again," Finn chirped next to me. This vampire gave me whish with how he bounced around. I often forgot he was there because he could be very quiet and observant.


    He leaned against the wall, studying me. "With war on the horizon, we''re all a bit on edge. Even your illustrious Darren." His voice softened. "Don''t take it personally. This is... normal, given the circumstances."


    "I know." I tried to put on a brave face but I was sure he could see right through me with his clever-seeing eyes.


    "Now," Finn interrupted, his tone suddenly brighter. "What I wouldn''t give for a proper meal to lift our spirits. You know, back in my day as king, we had the most divine steak pizzai. Tender meat, perfectly seasoned sauce..." He sighed dramatically. "s, the culinary arts here seem to have suffered."


    Despite myself, I felt a genuine smile tugging at my lips. "Is that so? I didn''t realize vampires were such food connoisseurs."


    Finn grinned, revealing the tips of his fangs. "My dear Allissa, there''s a lot you don''t know about vampires. For instance, did you know we''re excellent dance partners? Perhaps I could give you a lesson or two..."


    I rolled my eyes, but I was grateful for the distraction. "I think I''ll pass on the dancing, but maybe I could take a crack at that steak pizzai of yours."


    Finn''s eyebrows shot up, his amber eyes gleaming with interest. "You''d cook for me? Can you make steak pizzai?"


    "I''ll cook for the distraction. Don''t go making yourself more special." I listened as Ivan chuckled behind me. "I''ve only made it a few times but I think it turned out alright. I''m not sure I can meet your royal standards." Chapter 61


    "Nonsense," Finn said, waving a hand dismissively. "I''m sure you''ll do splendidly. And if not, well, we can always order fast food from the city. Even slow people be fast when they see


    me."


    "I wonder why." Ivan snorted and I let out a giggle.


    "I''m sure they don''t want to be on the menu." I smiled as Finn chuckled. This was definitely a wee distraction.


    The kitchen was a hive of activity when we entered. Servants bustled about, preparing meals for the castle''s inhabitants. The air was thick with the aroma of herbs and roasting meats, and the tter of pots and pans created a chaotic symphony.


    "Make way,” Finn announced grandly. “We have a culinary experiment to conduct."


    I rolled my eyes at his theatrics, but I couldn''t deny the warm feeling spreading through my chest. It was nice to feel ... normal, even if just for a moment.


    As the kitchen staff cleared a space for us, I surveyed the


    ingredientsid out before me. Thick cuts of beef, ripe tomatoes,


    fragrant herbs, and an array of spices. The sheer variety was almost overwhelming.


    "Where do we start?" Ivan asked, and I beamed up at him happily. He wanted to participate, too.


    "We start by washing our hands.” Finn sidled up next to me as we reached the sink.


    Ivan finished up and grabbed a knife. "Let''s get started!" I loved Chapter 61


    As Ivan began slicing the beef, Finn hovered nearby, his amber eyes gleaming with amusement.


    "Not bad," he drawled, "but you might want to cut against the grain. It''ll make the meat more tender."


    Ivan red at him. "Concentrate on your own task and leave the


    meat to me."


    "I don''t mean to brag, but as a vampire, I happen to be an expert when ites


    to meat."


    "And I happen to be an expert when ites to cutting things."


    "Except for your hair. It looks like you got into a fight with a weed whacker." Finn grinned, bouncing away from the swipe of Ivan''s hand.


    Iughed, stirring the sauce and watching it simmer. I realized that my earlier anxieties had faded. Here, in this warm kitchen with the unlikely duo of a vampire and a werebear, I felt... at home.


    "No, Ivan! Don''t cook it like that." Finn reached for the tray as Ivan lifted it in the


    air.


    "This isn''t blood pudding. Know your limits."


    "I''ll take that.” I jumped, grabbing the tray from Ivan. Both men looked at me as I took the tray to the oven.


    Suddenly, a flick of red caught my eye. Before I could react, a dollop of tomato sauce sttered across Ivan''s broad chest. My jaw dropped as I turned to see Finn, his amber eyes dancing


    mischief, adle held like a weapon in his hand.


    "Oops,” Finn said, his voice dripping with feigned innocence. "My hand must have slipped."


    Ivan''s golden eyes widened in shock, then narrowed dangerously. For a heartbeat, I feared I''d witnessed a vampire-werebear brawl in the middle of the kitchen. But then, to my utter amazement, Ivan''s lips twitched. A deep, rumblingugh erupted from his chest.


    "You''ve got some nerve, bloodsucker," he growled, but there was no malice in his tone. In one fluid motion, Ivan scooped up a handful of flour from the nearby counter and hurled it at Finn.


    The white powder exploded in a cloud around Finn''s golden hair, coating him like fresh snow. He sputtered, shaking his head like a dog, sending flour flying everywhere.


    "Oh, it''s on, furball," Finn dered, grabbing an egg from the bowl beside me.


    I ducked as the egg sailed over my head, sttering against Ivan''s shoulder. "Hey!" I cried out, caught betweenughter and disbelief. "What about dinner?" But my protests fell on deaf ears as chaos erupted around me. Ivan lunged for the bowl of chopped vegetables, pelting Finn with carrots and peppers. Finn retaliated by upending a container of olive oil, creating a slippery battleground. "You''re going down," Ivan taunted, sliding across the floor with surprising grace for someone his size.


    them into the fray. The air filled with the scent of crushed basil and oregano, mingling with ourughter.


    "Some protector you are, grizzly bear," I teased, ducking behind a counter as a wave of flour came my way.


    “I''m a pr bear,” Ivan snorted defiantly,unching flour at me and covering me in white powder.


    "And yet you will now be known as Grizz." I sneezed, trying to shake the flour out of my hair.


    Ivan''s response was lost in a spray of water as Finn unleashed the sink hose,


    drenching us both. The kitchen, once pristine, now looked like a battlefield of culinary proportions.


    As I wiped white from my eyes, I caught sight of Ivan and Finn, both covered head


    to toe in a rainbow of ingredients, grinning at each other like schoolboys. Theughter subsided to breathless chuckles as we surveyed the culinary carnage around us.


    "I haven''t had this much fun in a long time." Finn''s eyes sparkled with genuine warmth. It seemed like this was therapeutic for him as well. "Alright, next up to taste this food!"


    I watched, breath held, as he took a bite. His eyes widened, and for a moment, I feared the worst. But then a slow, appreciative smile spread across his face. "Allissa," he proimed, “This is, without a doubt, the best steak pizzai I''ve ever tasted. Darren will have to find another queen."


    “Let me inform him of your decision," Ivan said with a smirk.


    "Eh, on second thought, I''ll just have her cook for me." Finn rubbed his neck with


    augh. I felt like these two were more confident than I was with my own rtionship. I wanted to mindlink Darren but felt like I shouldn''t bother him. He could have mindlinked me at any time, but he didn''t.


    I shook my head, not wanting to get trapped in those unwanted thoughts again. I grabbed a towel, tossing one each to Finn and Ivan. "We made the mess. We aren''t going to ask the servants to clean it up."


    "Let me eat first!" Finn growled, holding the food up to his face.


    "We need to get cleaned up, too." Ivan looked from Finn to me. "But that presents


    another issue if we''re on guard duty."


    Suddenly, a new voice cut through ourughter. "What in the moon''s name happened here?"


    We all froze, turning to see Lyle standing in the doorway, his blue eyes wide with a


    mix of confusion and amusement. "Just wait until Darren sees what you''ve done to his queen." He walked over to me, grabbing a cloth and wiping my face. His smile was warm, and it didn''t look like he resented me at all or med me for his


    mother. "I need to take a picture of this." He pulled out his phone and began to click wildly.


    "Lyle!" Finn clicked his tongue and then his eyes lit up. "You know, you really need


    more color." A red streak came from the opposite direction. I watched as sauce sttered over Lyle and


    on to me.


    "I see how it is." Lyle reached up to touch his face and then looked at Ivan. "Game


    on."


    A Luna for the Lycan King