Traded To The Lycan King

Chapter 168

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Everyone sits and stares at Teiran, Nisha's eyes sizing him up with unbridled curiosity. Dean clears his throat, waiting for Hayes to say something, anything. But he doesn't. Instead, he stands and turns to walk away.

"Hayes,” Koda hisses, causing Hayes to stop, look over his shoulder uninterested, and then he walks off.

"I'll take the first watch," he mutters.

"I am Teiran." The dragon heir says. Nisha slaps at Koda, her eyes wide.

"I told you he looks familiar," she hisses at him.

"And how do you know him?" He asks, sounding bored.

"He is the dragon king's kid." She grits out. Koda sits up straighter, his mouth falling open as he looks at me, a grimace on my face as I try to hide my face.

"He is what?" Dean screeches.

"Calm down, they exiled him," Marcos says in Teiran's defense and I feel a twitch at my lip, amused that suddenly Marcos is defending him, even if it is minimal. "Disowned really."

"That doesn't matter," Koda scoffs. "If he looks like a dragon and smells like a dragon, then he is the enemy."

“Do I look like a dragon just sitting here?" Teiran asks, and Koda frowns.

"He means you are big," Nisha tries to explain.

"He is here because I asked him to help us." I say, cutting the chit chat short. "Yes, he is the dragon king's son, yes he was exiled and yes, I do trust him. At least enough to trust that we are not his enemy."

"Did you stop to consider that maybe he is our enemy?" Koda groans. "And Hayes agreed to this?"

He suddenly stands, throwing his hands up in anger before he chuckles to himself and he sneers at me.

"Yes, Hayes agreed. Teiran and I saved Hayes and Marcos. He had no problem killing his own kind to keep us safe." I snap at him as I jump up too, rolling my shoulders back.

"You two saved Marcos and Hayes?" Nisha repeats, her tone mocking as she rolls her eyes.

"Yes." Teiran interjects. "It seems your leader has a desire for death,"

Everyone falls silent. Dean looks down at his hands and Koda looks away, clearing his throat. We all know about Hayes' wish for death, the oath his brother made him take. There is no room for arguing with anyone about that.

"I'm going to go sit with Hayes," Dean says, getting up and walking off.

"Teiran, you should get some rest." I give him a half smile and he nods, clearing his throat before he lays down, and turns his back to the flames. "Looks like you have a pet dog," Nisha teases, a giddy grin on her face as she looks at an angry Koda who scowls at me.

"I am no one's pet, and I am least of all a dog." Teiran bites out from his spot.

"Enough." I exhale, my fingers pinching the bridge of my nose. The last thing I need is more arguing over moot points. My body is exhausted and muscles are sore. "I am going to get some sleep while I can."

I find a spot near the fire, my body shivering as I lay in the dewy grass, the moisture leaching through my clothing. Sleep, like always, eludes me no matter how long I lay counting the breaths. I roll onto my back, my hand over my stomach as I watch the stars.

Hayes had to feel it. Why else would he bring up sparks, and them being important? I shouldn't have denied it, but the fear of what he will do if I say yes made it feel impossible to say anything else. Would he have denied me on the spot, or would it be saving his life to admit it and ask him to accept me?

Not that I want him to. He is kind of a pompous ass who brings out the bitter, kind of annoying, bitchy part of me. But he is Hayes, my Hayes. The same guy who would make even the darkest days feel like there was light. He could take any terrible ordeal and use his words to make me think about it differently.

Hayes made me a good person. No, he made me want to be a better person, even after I left, hell even after meeting Tyler. I would remind myself to think objectively like Hayes would and yet, when I am around him, it is hard to think at all aside from wanting to smack him or kiss him silly.

| groan quietly, pressing my palms to

the lids of my eyes. Why did everything have to spiral out of control when I need it the most? My stupid, bond driven lycan wants to be curted up with Hayes, to be accepted. But Hayes and I...we are not in the place to love anyone. More so him than me, and the last thing we need is a sex driven

situationship.

"Can't sleep?" I hear a soft whisper and look around my hands to see the outline of Hayes as he takes a seat next to me.

"Not uncommon," I admit, and he nods.

"Yeah, I know the feeling. Might be part of why I am such an asshole." He gives me a soft grin and I chuckle.

"Or that could just be natural?" I tease.

Hayes' lips twitch, catching my

attention, my heart racing at just

being next to him. Down, lycan, down. Last thing I need is to get caught staring at his plush, upturned kissabte lips. He might get the right idea. That I want to smash my lips to his and leap into his arms. I don't want sex; I don't want to be marked...I want to be loved. By him.

"How can I help you sleep?" He asks, reaching out a hand to help me sit up.

"Have a spare mattress with fluffy blankets in any of these bags?" I ask him with an arched brow.

"You know, funny you should mention that..." He grins widely, hooking his thumb over his shoulder like he might actually try to play it off like he has

one.

"Oh shut up," I roll my eyes, a laugh tumbling from my lips as I shake my head, playing with my fingers. My stomach is fluttering and my cheeks feel red. It feels like I am a teenager all over again, flirting with the boy I like. Ironically, it's the same damn boy.

"You could always use me," He winks and I frown at him before I look away and tuck my hair behind my ear.

“I didn't mean like.....That came out wrong." He scrambles to fix what he said, but I realize he is struggling between his two personalities. The one I knew and loved and the current broken and angry version.

"It's fine Hayes." I mutter before I clear my throat. "Don't take this the wrong way. Sometimes I enjoy picking on you and bickering, but can we keep the sexual things to a minimum?"

"Of course," he says, looking away.

The fire highlights his cheeks, showcasing the smooth burns that weave over his skin, up his neck and to his cheek and temple. The shadows play in the grooves of where his skin will never heal and I can't help but need to touch it, to make it feel better even if he can feel nothing there.

I rise onto my knees, leaning forward as my fingers gingerly reach out and touch his delicate skin. He stiffens, his muscles working in his neck and jaw as they clench.

Hayes doesn't stop me as I inch closer, getting a better look, tilting my head from side to side as I trace a muscle line down his cheek, across his chin and down toward his collarbone. The normal skin around it goosebumps with my touch as I slip my hand over his cheek and turn him to face me. Our eyes meet, my breathing hitches.

There he is. This beautiful man is

both broken and perfect at the same time. A soul that I wanted desperately to match mine now finally fit. I don't know how I know it, but I can sense it. A wave of understanding washing over me. me. I

N

There is no letting him wit

won't survive it. Just like Pwon't

survive him killing himself. Content

“Grossed out?” He breathes, but I know he is sensing a shift between us too, something bigger than the quick sex. This is more intimate, life changing.

"You are so handsome." I tell him truthfully. "Scars and all. So perfect."

His chest heaves up and down as he watches me close before he reaches up and takes my hand from his face. He lifts my palm to his lips, pressing a soft kiss there before giving me a sad smile.

"You are a much better liar than you used to be," He murmurs. "Try to get some sleep."

Then he clears his throat before he stands. "When you feel those sparks, let me know so we can take care of them."