<i>Zephyrine </i>


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    s


    Lycannar climbed into the bed, slipping under the nket beside me. He leaned back against the pillow and pulled me into his arms.


    I let out a soft sigh, sinking against him, my eyelids fluttering closed as his palm caressed my waist, sliding lower to rub gently against my bare buttocks before moving up to stroke my back.


    He kissed my hair and exhaled, resting his head against the headboard.


    For a while, silence lingered between us, and I savored the warmth of his embrace.


    Atst, I slowly looked up, only to see his gaze fixed on Chantel, where he sat quietly finishing his meal.


    I turned too, curious. Chantel ate fast, but there was something unexpectedly gentle in the way he did, something almost cute, and it made me smile.


    “Chantel?” Lycannar’s sudden call broke the silence, startling me. Chantel paused, lifting his head at once. “How is my sister, Serena?”


    I stilled immediately. I had heard Chantel speak before, but now I found myself eager to listen more closely.


    “Princess Mearez healed her. She is fine. Resting in her chamber,” he replied.


    At those words, I felt the chill spread through Lycannar’s palm on me, though his voice stayed firm andmanding.


    “Whenever I am passed out, whenever I fall, I want you to protect them.”


    Chantel nodded, but Lycannar’s tone grew sharper, explicit.


    “With everything you have. If I am down or out, you stay with them. You protect them.”


    Again Chantel nodded. He finished his meal, cleared the table, and walked out in silence.


    The door closed behind him, and I swallowed hard. He seemed… strange. Out of ce. Just like Lycannar had, when I first met him.


    “Lycan,” I whispered, curling closer, swinging one leg over his.


    9:49 <b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b>5


    <b>95 </b>


    “Hmm.” His murmur came low, fingersbing tenderly through my


    hair.


    15 Free Coins


    “What’s going on in your kingdom about the food supplies?” I asked quietly. But he stayed mute. I sat up, frowning at him. “You won’t speak?”


    “I’ll fix it when I regain my strength,” he murmured atst, shrugging. “These days, my uncle is pressing too far. I won’t hesitate to kill him. I just… I just need to hold out until the next full


    moon.”


    “You think he did it?”


    “Carry out a report without the royal seal? Yes. It reeks of him.” His voice hardened. “He’s fought me all these years. It’s wearing on me.” He shrugged again before turning to me. “But don’t worry. I’ll fix it.”


    “I am worried.” My gaze fell, swallowing down the weight in my chest. “I’m worried about what the people of yours will think of me, knowing I am one of the ones who brought this upon them.”


    “Let’s go


    to sleep. No more guilt. No morementing,” he said firmly.


    “But Lycan…” I tried, but he hushed me, his hand cupping my cheek with reverence.


    “I don’t want to speak of your brother and what he did.” His voice was low, final. “I respect you, Zephyrine, as much as I love you. Now that we are mated, it deepens everything. Let’s not start tearing at it.”


    The finality in his tone silenced me. I swallowed and leaned back into his arms as he rxed against the bed, pulling me close so I could rest my head on his shoulder.


    Still, silence left me restless. He may not want to speak of it, but I could feel it in him that he was furious, and Varyn had truly drawn blood, crashing his tower.


    Sleep refused toe. I shifted in his arms, turning my back to him, trying to rest. But peace wouldn’t find me. I turned again, only to see him staring at me.


    I faltered, fumbling for words.


    “I… I just…” But my voice trailed when I noticed his eyes.


    That look, soft, adoring, worshiping every inch of me. His gaze drifted down to my bare arm, and he gently took my hand from beneath the nket, tracing the runes that bound us.


    “That’s the true mark of my beasts on you,” he whispered. “On our wedding night, I will mark you myself. Give you <i>my </i>bite, so you’ll carry my scent forever.”


    <b>9:49 </b><b>Sun</b><b>, </b><b>Oct </b><b>5 </b>


    My heart swelled. Curious, I asked,


    s<b>: </b>


    “How do kings hold weddings? In the wolf way, we stand before the sacred ground and take vows. If they are mates, they mark cach other the first night.”


    “It won’t be our first night together,” he murmured, fingers grazing my arm. “But it will be the first as man and wife. You are already my mate. In some ways, you are already my wife. For us Lycans, vows make it official.”


    I searched his eyes. Pillow talk of weddings turns out to be more thrilling, moreforting than I expected.


    “When do you think is best for us to marry? I mean… it’s…”


    “It’s yours to decide,” he said softly, eyes tender. “If it were mine, I’d say tomorrow. But there are protocols. My mother wears the crown of queen. To make you queen, she must hand it over with a ritual.”


    “Mother? You mean… your father’s wife? Your stepmother?”


    “Yes,” he whispered. I studied him, questions rising, but before I could ask, he exined. “She was good to me. Harsh at times, but good. She left when my father brought in my mother. It’s been fifteen years since Ist saw her.”


    “Truly?”


    my mother “She and my father… never had a bond. It was duty for the kingdom. She left when came, leaving behind her two daughters. My sisters.” He shrugged. “The Blood family isplicated. Rules bind us. I can’t wed you unless I have my father’s, my stepfather’s, blessing. He is strict. But when he learns you’re my mate, he’ll bless us.”


    “Does he… know about me?” I asked.


    Instead of answering, he smiled, leaned in, and kissed me softly.


    “Don’t underestimate yourself. You are the warmander who drove demons back. Everyone knows the rogue who is a female Alpha.”


    I smiled at that. He kissed me again, and the kiss deepened, growing serious. I cupped his cheeks, straddling him as he gently pulled me closer.