Page 36 of His Fierce Lycan Luna
I level my gaze at Kyson, my voice steady but edged with the authority that comes with my title, if I’m going to claim it, I should be allowed to use it. “Trey and Dustin are both my guards, aren’t they? If you’re speaking with them, I have a right to know about what,” I tell him. The growl that rumbles from Kyson’s throat is low and laced with frustration. Trey’s shoulders shake ever so slightly, his lips pressed tight in an effort to hide a smile, while Dustin merely shifts his eyes toward Kyson, silent as stone.
“Oh, she has a point,” Liam remarks, the light in his eyes dancing mischievously while the King glares at me.
“Wait, I thought you said I commanded Gannon and Dustin away?” My confusion sharpens into irritation, and I swivel to face Liam, who leans casually against the door frame.
“You did,” Liam confirms with a nod, his expression serious for once.
“You commanded them not to follow or touch you. You came in here. They can’t touch you or follow you if you leave, which you will have to fix.” Kyson tilts his head, regarding me with eyes full of something akin to concern.
“I don’t trust many with you as your guard, and until then, you are stuck with Liam or me permanently attached to you.” Kyson shakes his head, the disapproval clear in his posture.
Kyson’s gaze narrows. “And you were supposed to ensure she stayed in the room,” he directs at Liam.
Liam tilts his head slightly, his voice laced with mock innocence.
“Was I now?” he quips, “Right my King. Well, for next time then, would you rather I pin her to the bed or tie her down?” The words slip from Liam’s lips with a rogue’s grin playing at the edges, but they land heavily in the thick air of the room, like stones into still water.
Kyson’s growl rumbles through the silence, a low warning that vibrates against my skin. His eyes flicker with a fire not entirely meant for Liam but for the situation that has grown beyond his control.
“Enough,” Kyson snarls. “We can continue this later.”
Gannon’s response is instinctual, protective—a growl emanating from deep within as he reluctantly loosens his grip on Trey, stepping back with a scowl etched onto his face. He folds his arms across his chest.
“Continue what later?” The words tumble from my lips. They’re once again keeping me in the dark.
Trey straightens, his posture rigid, as if bracing against an invisible blow. His eyes, wide and earnest, seek mine. “The King thinks I’m the one who poisoned you.” He pauses, swallowing hard, the Adam’s apple in his throat bobbing with the effort. “I explained how it’s impossible to harm you, even if I wanted to, not that I do, my Queen. It’s all just a huge misunderstanding!”
A growl, low and menacing, cuts through Trey’s defense—a sound that seems to originate from the very walls of the room. Kyson’s warning to be quiet is clear.
I shift my gaze between Dustin and Liam, the weight of their previous accusations against Trey hanging heavy in the air. Dustin’s shoulders are squared, his eyes a clear challenge as they lock with mine. With a nonchalant shrug that doesn’t quite reach his storm-cloud eyes, he concedes, “It appears I was wrong.” His words are clipped, edged with a reluctant admission as he glares at Trey.
“Really?” Liam quirks an eyebrow, skepticism lacing his tone. He leans forward slightly, arms crossed, his attention drilling into Trey. “He’s suddenly off your creepometer?” The question is pointed, almost mocking.
I watch Liam’s face harden, the cheerfulness that danced in his eyes moments before extinguished by a flicker of suspicion. “I still think there’s something slimy about him,” he accuses, his gaze narrowing to slits as he peers at Trey.
Trey’s jaw clenches, and I can see the muscle tick beneath his skin, as if wrestling with himself. His hands, which rest on the table, form into fists so tight his knuckles bleach white. “Don’t shove your prejudices against me, even if they aren’t intentional,” he snarls back, defiance raising the pitch of his voice. “We all know why you blame me. It’s because I’m the only Royal Guard that was originally a Landeena, an outsider. Iwasn’t part of the Valkyrie Kingdom. That’s what pisses you off. Just admit it!”
Liam’s face reddens, and his words spit out like daggers thrown with precision at Trey. “You got in on a whim! You don’t get to waltz on in and become part of the guard without working for it,” he snaps, his finger jabbing the air toward Trey as if to pin him to his accusation.
“Enough!” Kyson growls, his eyes sweeping across everyone. “Everyone may enter the trials. He never cheated, and he was blood tested like everyone else.”
“Wait! What’s going on? What prejudices are you talking about?” I ask. Kyson’s lips press into a thin line, his silence as telling as any confession. His eyes, dark pools of thought, avoid mine.
Dustin moves forward, his broad shoulders set in a way that tells me he’s bracing for the weight of his next words. “When all the Kingdoms were alive, we all used to compete.” His voice is steady, but underneath, there’s an edge. “Landeena’s were known for cheating. The competitions had huge rewards. They liked remaining in control.”
My head tilts, puzzlement etching my features as I struggle to piece together the fragmented history that Dustin lays bare. “Huh?”
Kyson finally breaks his silence. He rubs at the stubble on his jaw, a gesture of frustration that’s become all too familiar. “The King ones were separate from that of the Guard ones. We competed, but not like that. The game trials were just for added effect to amp up the Kingdom’s,” he says, his head shaking as if to dispel the memories.
“What would you win?” I ask curiously.
My question hangs in the air for a moment when Kyson’s gaze locks with mine.
“Pure bloodlines,” he starts, his voice a low rumble of distant thunder. “Reign over the council for that year.” The air thickens as he continues, “My father bet was Landeena’s first daughter.”
I feel my breath catch, a silent gasp that fails to break the surface. “You,” he adds, and it feels as though the world tilts on its axis, “you were the bet between our fathers.”
“Not that he ever won that one. However, I did. For years before, though, it was tradition for the kingdoms to compete.” Kyson explains. Meanwhile, a low growl escapes from Liam, making me glance at him.
