Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

Chapter 76

"Get over it"

My voice barely scrapes past my lips, hoarse and bitter. It sounds weak, even to

me,

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1 drag a hand down my face, my skin raw from wiping at the tears I refuse to acknowledge. My throat is thick, my stomach twisted into a knot so tight I feel like I might throw up.

I hate this.

I hate that I can still feel him—his touch lingering on my skin like a fucking, brand, I hate that my body still craves him, even After he walked away. Even after he proved, yet again, that I'm just a goddamn idiot when it comes to him.

Fuck him. Fuck his lips, his hands, his scent that's still clinging to my clothes, I shove the thought down, forcing myself to focus on what actually matters,

The documents.

They're spread out in front of me on the floor, edges curling, ink faded in some spots from age. I scan over the words, trying to push through the haze in my head.

Names. Dates. Transactions. Reports.

I trace my fingers over the text, my mind sluggish as it tries to put the pieces together. But my focus is shit.

All I see is my own last name, scrawled across an ancient Lycan royal record like it belongs there.

But it doesn't.

My family has never been tied to the royal house. At least, not that I've ever known.

A sharp, cold weight settles in my chest as my eyes move down the page.

Then I see his name.

My brother.

The inked letters feel like a slap to the face, knocking the air right out of my lungs.

His name is buried in a document tracking border activity.

I skim further.

A date,

My stomach drops.

It's the same fucking day I lost him.

My pulse hammers in my ears, drowning out the silence of the room. I clutch the paper tighter, my knuckles white.

What the hell does this mean?

My brain stumbles through the implications, but none of it makes sense. None of it fits.

And the worst part?

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Chapter 76

It feels familiar. Like I've seen this puzzle before but never had the right pieces.

A sick feeling coils in my gut.

I'm missing something.

I don't know what.

Not yet.

But something tells me I'm running out of time.

I inhale sharply through my nose, forcing the panic down. I need answers, and I need them now.

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My phone is on the bed, the screen cracked from one of the many times I've dropped it. I snatch it up and scroll through my contacts, my thumb hesitating over a name before I press call.

Liam picks up on the second ring.

"Sinclair," he greets, his voice clipped, like he's already annoyed and I haven't even said anything yet.

Charming as always.

"Hey, Calloway," I mutter, shifting on the floor. "I need a favor."

There's a brief pause, then a sigh. "Of course you do. What is it?"

I roll my eyes at his tone but ignore it. "I need you to dig into something for me. Family registries, royal records-anyone with ties to the Imperial Court from before the coup."

Liam doesn't respond right away, which means he's already debating whether or not to waste his time on this.

"Please," I add, though it tastes like vinegar in my mouth.

"Yeah, yeah," he mutters. "I'll see what I can find."

Relief loosens my shoulders. "Thanks, Liam."

"Don't thank me yet," he says flatly. "I haven't found shit."

Then he hangs up.

I stare at my phone for a second before shaking my head. Asshole. But at least he's a useful one.

Before I can set my phone down, another call flashes across the screen.

Kallias.

1 blink.

What the fuck?

I hesitate for half a second before answering. "Hello?"

There's a beat of silence, then, "Hey."

His voice is familiar, but there's something off about it. Something hesitant.

I frown. "What's up?"

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Chapter 76

says. "Just wanted to hear

My stomach tightens.

what I expected, but it sure as hell

knees up, gripping the phone

barely-there sound. "Don't mind it,"

working on stopping it."

emotions swirls in my chest-surprise, confusion, maybe even a little bit

to say

I don't say

silence stretches between us until he

the

my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some kind of

lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing

world feels

the first time in a

feel completely,

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ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it. But instead, I just fucking

Try not to think about the weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it belonged

It doesn't work.

slithers

I shove it down.

money, and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with

panic, shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from

parent.

unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended

blink. "The hell I

onto my bed. The hangers clatter against

not in the mood for some-"I motion vaguely at the dresses,

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Chapter 76

"-whatever the fuck this

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know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't, you'll sit in this room, going batshit crazy over documents like

and I refuse to

"I like being a feral conspiracy theorist." "Taryn." Zoe puts her hands on

pathetic, emotionally-wrecked dumbass. "You need to clear your head. And what better way to do that than

my eyes. "...Define

She grins, all teeth.

me I won't like

fucking knew I wouldn't

second we step inside, the air changes-charged, thick with sweat and adrenaline. It smells like leather, metal, and aggression. The overhead lights are dim, flashing erratically, casting

feels like

shaking the floor, but it's almost drowned out by the sounds of fists slamming into

goddamn underground fight

slowly turn to

She smiles innocently.

"You dragged me

she corrects. "Not illegal.

the ring. Then

the fuck is

a dismissive hand. "You need to let off

and I figured

deep voice

you when she

I whip around.

next to the ring, arms crossed, expression

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

to Zoe. "You planned this? With

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Chapter 76

my hands up. "What the

casually, like he didn't

turn back to him.

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

doesn't answer. He just looks at me. And

And

way his

stomach drop.

my spine. "Jacob," I

is fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I hear

voice, cutting through the thick air like a

match you've all

erupts. The

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ring. Two fighters are

hands. And then, without warning, they

It's not a sport.

It's war.

The English guy lands a

feel it. The

him into

My stomach churns.

a normal fight. This is barely legal

hiss. "I

yet," she urges, grabbing my arm.

fucking

a knockout. The Italian guy doesn't get

The crowd goes wild.

announcer's voice booms

challenger unlike any you've

The lights cut out.

music shifts-deeper, darker, something that vibrates through my

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Chapter 76

opposite side of the

entire body goes

Because he steps out.

in black,

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this room knows who he is.

he took the throne. The media isn't allowed to publicize it. The

forbids it.