Traded To The Lycan King by MG Wattsons

*Hayes*

"Tiago," Kyra whispers, closing the gap between him and her before she crouches down to his height. He giggles, a joy in his eyes that I have often seen reserved for Christmas mornings.

"Hot." He smiles so widely his cheeks dimple and she gently places her hand on his arm.

"Yeah buddy," she agrees, the flames now circling the two of them as sweat dots her brow. "But it's too hot for mama. It hurts mama, and Hayes and everyone else here."

His little brows furrow, and I have no idea if he understands what she is saying. How much can someone who skips years in a day really comprehend? Then he tilts his head to the side, his eyes meeting mine, then he frowns.

The flames drift toward me as if floating on an invisible boat across the ocean waves. As they get closer, the heat grows and I lift my arm to block my face, the sting of my burns on my arm growing more painful by the second. I hiss and wince and suddenly the flames disappear and Tiago drops to the ground on his butt, sadness in his eyes.

"Dada, hurt?" He says as his little lips pull together and quiver.

My heart breaks in two, my chest aching as I try to understand this awakening in me that wants to cry at hearing that title from his mouth.

"I'm okay, Tiago," I saw, my voice hoarse as I swallow the emotions swimming through me. Kyra looks at me with a tiny, knowing smile on her lips as she feels what I am feeling through our one sided bond. I can see her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

"He just needs to see a healer," Colette says softly, moving over to Tiago and grinning at him. "You know, I bet my kids would love to see you again, and maybe play some fun games."

He lights up, a typical kid forgetting the thing that was just on their mind when the mention of playing comes up. I can't help but chuckle at his excitement as he jumps up and nods his head.

"Mama will come find you after I take dada to see the healer." Kyra tells him as he grips Colette's hand. Steam rises between their skin and they both look at it in shock before Colette giggles and he does, too.

"Kyra, you should go with him." I say and she gives me a look, one telling me that she will not be doing what I say at all.

"He will be fine with us," Colette assures me. "If anything, he is safer with me around than anyone else."

sparing a glance back at us as Percy starts trudging me along each step like a dagger to my leg as he tries to keep me from jostling around too much. It takes effort to hide my pain from Kyra, but I mask the pain until we make it to

toward my shoulder before spreading out through

we can do is ease the pain. I know I don't have to tell you how dragon's flame

aware." I say,

like a dagger digging down to the bone. But I find solace in Kyra's gentle stroking of her thumb over my good hand, her touch

I would suggest amputation." He mutters before lifting his eyes to meet mine. My lips press

last time." I remind him, and

"The extent of the damage is far worse

now?" I ask him.

arm and hand in some type of leaves and then

bad?" Kyra asks, and I give her hand a squeeze

She knows this, but the worry on her face

The healer admits, his hands pressing on my sensitive skin

back into the pillow as I try to

grunt out. "Is a snapped femur, Hayes. I

that. It will heal much faster than that." I say with confidence. "Plus I am mated, well, almost fully

grins, shaking her

She promises the healer. "And I will be sure to mark him, so he

full bonde happen. Simply marking

Kyra to myself in every way. Bile rises in my throat, burning its way

makes my stomach squirm and there is no stopping the vomit as it flies past my lips, sloshing onto the floor. "There." The healer says in my ears as they ring violently, Kyra's gentle

sucked." I sputter out, my body shaking with exhaustion and

the healer murmurs as he goes about securing my leg. I spit the taste of vomit out to the side and glare at him. "Says who?" I ask,

read it in a human medical book once." He shrugs. "Not entirely sure it