Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 71

Click. Flash. And another click.

They definitely know what they're doing.

I feel it before I see it.

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That sharp prickle at the back of my neck. The kind of awareness that slithers up your spine and whispers in your ear- you're being watched.

And then, a flicker. A glint of light where there shouldn't be any. In the deep forest below the balcony. The only thing a human would see is the eternity of trees along the horizon.

But no, not me. Especially not Enoch.

I shift in his hold, my breath still uneven, my pulse an erratic drumbeat against his chest. The warmth of his lips lingers on my skin, but my focus sharpens on the dark patch of trees below the balcony. My wolf hones in on movement, on the nearly imperceptible rustling of leaves.

There.

A human crouches behind a tree, their camera lens reflecting the ballroom lights like a fucking beacon.

My stomach plummets.

Stupid paparazzi.

I can't believe I'ms saying that because I too, am one.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Every single alarm bell in my head wails at once.

Enoch-his face-undeniable proof of who he is. A ghost, a myth, the king who rose from the dead, caught in the middle of a secret rendezvous with some mystery woman. Me.

If this gets out, it's not just me who's screwed.

Liam's company will burn. I will burn-or worse, fired. I already made two records of humiliation, putting the company on blacklist from most events they could have had scooped on simply because the company had a...

"Mad woman"

If I get caught in this, it would already be strike three. The final fucking nail in my coffin.

My pulse hammers in my ears. My brain kicks into damage control even as Enoch's lips trace my jaw, completely unaware of the fire about to consume us both.

I react on instinct.

I shove him.

Hard.

His grip tightens for half a second, his body unmoving, his wolf-dark eyes locking onto mine in stunned refusal.

"No," he growls, voice rough with those red eyes beginning to surface. No, no, no. This can't happen now. I bite my lip when

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Chapter 71

his hands tighten on my arms. He'd rather be caught a werewolf by the entire human race than risk letting me go?

I can't do this. Not here. Not now.

My mind races, my options thinning. I need him to let me go.

So, I do the only thing that I know will make him pause.

I kiss him.

Soft. Slow. A whisper of goodbye against his lips.

Enoch stills. His body goes rigid, his fingers twitching on my waist like they want

to hold me tighter-but then his lashes Autter, his grip loosens, and his breath catches.

There he is, the obedient dog I raised.

Turns out, I still hold his leash.

I take advantage of the fraction of hesitation, pressing my lips to his forehead, his nose, his mouth-our usual rhythm of calming him down. Memorizing the feel of him, the scent of him, the way he always-always-leans into me as though I'm the only thing that makes sense.

And then, as my lips graze his ear, I seal it.

"Find me again."

mouth before I

look back. If I do,

back into the masquerade, into the faceless sea of bodies and gilded masks. My hands yank my own mask back into place, securing my

halos onto the dancers, the air thick with perfume and expensive liquor. Laughter swirls around me, oblivious, while my

keep moving.

grand driveway. The driver doesn't question me when I fling myself into the

say, voice

the midnight one, but the one I actually wore. If I linger in the party any linger, it would only be a matter of

city blurs past the window, streaks of neon and late-night bustle, but I barely see it. My pulse is still somewhere back on that

goodbye I never wanted to

fingers to them,

Find me.

me, I want him

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Chapter 71

I wake up in my apartment with

known to man.

my dress from last night, one shoe kicked off, my hair an absolute

over and burying my face

him. You told him to find you. You ran

Brilliant. Fucking brilliant, Taryn.

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trudging to the bathroom. A cold shower brings me back to life just enough to function, and by

coffee, I almost convince myself that

Almost.

kicks the door open like a human wrecking

still can't

mid-pour, coffee sloshing dangerously

I ask, schooling

wide as she clutches her phone. "The King. Last night. How he danced with that mysterious woman in a midnight blue gown. No one knows

that like a hundred

see the scene! It was so perfect."

stare at her.

inside, I am

fingers tighten around my mug. "Huh." I take a slow sip.

out a dramatic sigh, collapsing into a chair. "Ugh, I know, right? The way people are describing it, it was like something out of a fairy tale. Can you

Yes. Yes, I can.

noncommittally, turning back to my coffee machine so she doesn't see the twitch at the corner

"Hey, Taryn."

She looks nervous, shifting her weight from foot to foot like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Great. That's

calling for you,"

wrong way. I choke,

dramatic best friend, slams her

to force a demon

you do now?"

he just

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Chapter 71

mated to the King

It's Liam."

stomach is instant. It's just last night since the ball. Since him. Since I tried to shove that entire part of my life into a dark, locked box and

to Liam's office like a woman marching toward a firing

open. I don't knock-I never do, and he never complains. Liam's behind his desk, fingers steepled, eyes sharp. He looks like he's been

Close the door."

that's not ominous or

as I'm told, stepping into the office and folding my arms as I meet his

"So, what's up, Boss?"

me for a beat, something

blue eyes.

for

like an

blink, my mouth parting slightly. Oh,

The assignment.

The investigation.

The goddamn Alpha King.

burns

No? After everything? After clawing my way

through the wreckage of the last few months? But

yes, either. Not when I know who I'd

I've already found

leans back, watching me with the patience of someone who already

conversation will end. "You're

lips into a half-smirk. "What, you want me to act like a

I grew