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."

as Tiago happily follows along with Colette, not even 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

toward my shoulder before spreading out

reaching for some salve on the table next to him. "The best we can do is ease the pain. I know

am well aware."

and burned skin. Every drag, no matter how gentle, feels like a dagger digging down to the bone. But I find solace in Kyra's gentle stroking of her thumb over my good hand,

I would suggest amputation." He mutters before lifting

that last time." I remind him, and

of that, and I stand by that statement now and then." He says, looking to meet my eyes. "The extent of the damage is far worse than the last time, Hayes. I fear you will lose

leg now?" I ask him. "That

in some type of leaves and then elastic band. When he makes his

bad?" Kyra asks, and I

just a break. It will heal." I remind her. She knows

a quick heal, Hayes." The healer admits, his

forcing my head back into the pillow as I try to breathe through my

out. "Is a snapped femur, Hayes. I will need to set

will heal much faster than that." I say

grins, shaking her head at my

he doesn't move a muscle." She promises the healer. "And I will be

nibbles her bottom lip shyly. I can sense the way she wants to make the full bonde happen.

from the delightful thought of finally having Kyra to myself in every way. Bile rises in my throat, burning its way up into my mouth as

muscles move, the bone slipping back into place as he sets in. The feeling 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

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

I spit the taste of vomit out to the side and glare at him. "Says

shrugs. "Not entirely sure it is the same for