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 rip away. Before I

If

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

and expensive liquor. Laughter swirls around

moving.

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

say,

the ballroom any longer. They caught a good picture of my dress-not the midnight one, but the

of neon and late-night bustle, but I barely see it. My pulse is still somewhere back on that balcony.

goodbye I never wanted to

them, trying to steady my

Find me.

me, I want

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Chapter 71

wake up in my apartment

known to man.

from last night, one shoe kicked

burying

him to find you.

Brilliant. Fucking brilliant, Taryn.

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shower brings me back to life just enough to function, and

almost convince myself that

Almost.

the door open like a human

can't

coffee sloshing dangerously close to the

I ask,

her phone. "The King. Last night. How he danced with that mysterious woman in a midnight blue gown. No

said that like a

weren't there to see the scene! It was so perfect." She

at

inside, I

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

are describing it, it was

Yes. Yes, I can.

hum noncommittally, turning back to my coffee machine so she doesn't see the

"Hey, Taryn."

mid-sip, and find a junior staffer peeking into the breakroom. She looks nervous, shifting her weight from foot to foot like she'd rather be anywhere but here. Great.

for you," she

coffee goes down the wrong way. I choke, coughing

dramatic best friend, slams her palm onto

a demon

did you do now?"

he just wants to

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Chapter 71

maybe I'm secretly mated to the King of Vampires. Come

It's Liam."

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 throw it into the fucking ocean. I tried so

to Liam's office like a woman marching

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

Close the door."

not ominous

do as I'm told, stepping into the office and

"So, what's up, Boss?"

me for a beat, something unreadable shifting behind

blue eyes.

still up for the assignment,

words feel like an ice

mouth parting slightly.

The assignment.

The investigation.

The goddamn Alpha King.

burns

say. No? After everything? After

wreckage of the last few

either. Not when I know

I've already

with the patience of someone who

this conversation will end.

into a half-smirk. "What,

I grew a