Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

*Colette*

Percy is silent, his eyes always on the lookout and his body tense as we move swiftly closer and closer to the enemy. There are so many things I want to say, want to ask him, but I know all too well the once chatty kid is much more closed off now. Even to me. I clear my throat softly and glance at him, catching him as he looks at me. Then he sighs.

"Luna, I am fine." He tries to assure me.

"Ok," I say nonchalantly, afraid to push harder.

"The Fae queen's hold wasn't long enough to linger in me. I have not felt her once where Leandra has." He offers and I shake my head.

It's funny how he assumes I am worried about that. Or perhaps he knows exactly what I am worried about and wants to be sure we skip that topic. When I look at him again, I see he needs this, to just air his own worries and doubts while I pretend they are mine.

"If you say so, Percy." I shrug, ducking under a pine branch, the needles tumbling from the dried out tree and scattering to the ground.

"I would never put you in danger. If I was worried about her having a hold on me, then I wouldn't have come." He says, his voice growing more desperate. "The fae's hold was weak enough for me to fight once, so if it happens again, I will fight it."

A soft breeze brushes my face, and I pause, wondering how a breeze could make it through the dense forest. He prattles on with his words while I watch as a single tree shudders from the same wind and I reach out, grabbing Percy's arm. He lets out a sad sigh.

"Luna, I swear I am here to protect you, and it has nothing to do with Penny. We took an oath and I stand by that—”

"Percy..." I mutter "Shut up."

He follows my gaze, his eyes growing wide before he scowls up at the tree, his knees bending as he lowers his body and prepares for an attack.

"What do you see?" he whispers low enough only a wolf could pick up.

"Breeze in a single tree," I murmur back, my eyes focused on the branch that sways yet shows me nothing. No animal or warrior can be seen, but we have learned that means shit in this world where magic has turned dark.

"We need to move," He says, grabbing my elbow, and tugging me away. My eyes snap to him, watching as he fixates on something I clearly can not pinpoint.

"What do YOU see?" I hiss at him and he shakes his head, though his eyes remain focused.

"Nothing where something should be, and that worries me more," he says before snapping his gaze to meet mine. Panic explodes over his face. "Run, luna" "Shit," I grumble, turning and taking off at a full sprint.

Percy is at my back, his even breathing loud enough for me to hear, and I realize he is doing that for me, so I know he is there and I don't need to look back. I try to reach out to Merikh, but we have grown too far apart.

mind whirls with possibilities of what the hell might be following us. Whatever it is, it has had the time to attack and yet it didn't. Whether that makes it a wise enemy or a shitty ally, I don't know. And

behind me as I

their stamina and strength is overall just.... better. I, however, have

If I fail, I will be the first one

I grunt out in pain. Percy is next to me in a heartbeat, swooping under my aching shoulder and wrapping his arm around my back as he continues

slice at my face, catch as my waist

take a step onto my ankle and pain tears through my calf. I cry out, and land on my hands and knees, turning to look at Percy, who stands in front, his

she

I roll my shoulders back. He looks over his shoulders at me, a

to do just that,

truth of Percy's words is enough to make me bet my life on him winning this battle.

a tree, her eyes swirling with red and her face pale, almost gaunt. When she smiles, she reveals a mouth

every step closer she takes, I see the stains on her garb. The way it is tattered and soaked with blood. Elm must have failed to kill her.

her lips cracking and a droplet of blood dripping

I ask and she looks sad for a moment,

she whispers. "He chose me until

bitch." Percy says, stepping

him. Another flies for him, taking his other hand just

hands to the dry dirt, reaching for the water and swiftly pulling it from the earth intime to break his strike to the ground with a soft mud. Lily's eyes squint as she smiles

only one with a party trick, I guess." She

and I roll my eyes. I know I need to save my strength, but I refuse to watch him fight an unfair

even without using her eyes, she witnesses it. Roots rise from the ground, breaking

They circle him, twisting together at the top slowly, trapping him. He tears them

as he tries like hell to break free. A green root slips around his neck, tightening as his lycan retreats and Percy's human form takes

to make it

stops, and I look up at Lily, who looks all too

goodbye." She says. "It's more than you got to do with

I lick my lips and dig as deep in myself as I can. What use is water at

how to respond as he lies, unable to move. Then I realize what it is I have to do, fuck saving my strength, fuck

in confusion as I close my eyes. I dig deeper than the cold reserves of water just below the surface. My siren reaches past the flowing waters in the caverns hidden far below even what we

the earth, so I find the water that is bubbling, the water that steams and roars with pockets of heat. It feels as if my

I relish as it proves I did it. Then I look at Percy and