Lycan's Prey by Jessica Hall

Chapter 34

As the afternoon sunlight slowly fades, the castle’s stone walls take on a warm, reflected glow. Max slows his swinging, eventually stopping, and hops off to chase a red and gold leaf spinning in the light wind. His laughter echoes through the courtyard, bringing life to the silent stone surroundings.

Suddenly, I feel the sharp chill of being watched and turn to find King Soren entering the courtyard.

“My King,” I acknowledge before turning my attention back to Max. I follow Max who has chased the leaf taken by the breeze into the rear of the castle where a massive tree sits as

the centerpiece.

“Did you finish your meeting, my king?” I ask as Soren as he catches up with me.

He nods. “It wasn’t a meeting, just my parents checking in on me,” he says with a faint smile on his lips when I notice one of his maids coming out of the doors behind us.

“Afternoon tea is ready, my king,” a servant announces, approaching us with a respectful bow.

Max dashes toward us hearing his father addressed, his energy seemingly endless.

“Can we have a picnic with Brielle?” he asks his father, his eyes shining with hope.

I start to excuse myself. “Max, I should get home…”

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Chapter 34

“Or you could join us?” King Soren interrupts, his voice unexpectedly gentle.

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begs, tugging at my hand with

on Granny,” I relent, feeling a mix

tree in the rear yard. We settle down on a patch of grass under the large tree, with a picnic spread out in front of us. Max chatters away, pointing at the different foods and explaining what they are to

mostly content to watch his son’s

answer as best as I can, without giving too much information away. I don’t

occasionally offering his own stories from his childhood. I am surprised by how natural and easy our

for a game of hide–and- seek and King Soren joins in. As they run around the courtyard, laughter filling the air once

and

“Come on, Bree!”

Chapter 34

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head. “I’m not a cat, Max. I’m no good at climbing

“C’mon! It’s easy!”

chuckled at my side, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watched our interaction. “He thinks we can all do anything,” he explained, before suddenly

I felt a sudden rush of nerves.

hand in his larger one and allowed him to guide me to the base

for such a large and powerful man. His hands were gentle as he helped me

laugh as I carefully climbed higher, Max cheering from above when I realize King Soren was

I tell him. He laughs, taking a seat back on the picnic rug and watching. I shake my

this

on, come on, higher.” Max calls out. I look where he is perched on a branch high above then back at the ground, was high enough for