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."

I watch 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 to the healers.

Percy helps me to the bed, a groan of relief breaking from my dry lips as I settle in, my muscles aching as my head rests back on the soft pillow. Spark rush through my body from my hand racing up toward my shoulder before spreading out through my chest and to every nerve ending in my body. I turn to look at Kyra as she sits next to me, looking at the healer who frowns as he picks up my charred hand.

"Well," he clicks his tongue, reaching for some salve on the table next to him. "The best we can do is ease the pain. I know I don't have to tell you how dragon's flame works."

"Yeah, I am well aware." I say, gritting my teeth.

The healer exhales deeply, shaking his head as he painfully drags his fingers over my blistered 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, her touch easing the pain as best as she can.

"If this doesn't heal well, Hayes, I would suggest amputation." He mutters before lifting his eyes to meet mine. My lips press together tightly, unimpressed by his suggestion.

"You suggested that last time." I remind him, and he nods solemnly.

"I am aware 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 at least two fingers, if not three. The risk of infection is far too high." I sigh.

"Perhaps we can look at my leg now?" I ask him. "That is where the majority of my pain lies."

"Yes, yes," He mutters as he wraps my lower arm and hand in some type of leaves and then elastic band. When he makes his way down to my leg and pushes my shorts up.

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

"It's just a break. It will heal." I remind her. She knows this, but the worry on her face doesn't fade away.

"This will not be a quick heal, Hayes." The healer admits, his hands pressing on my sensitive skin as I groan in pain.

"Fuuuucking hell." I grind out, forcing my head back into the pillow as I try to breathe through my teeth.

"This right here?" The healer points to a lump in my thigh, pressing down as I grunt out. "Is a snapped femur, Hayes. I will need to set it and you will not be able to move for a while."

"I am a lycan, and one born a beta at that. It will heal much faster than that." I say with confidence. "Plus I am mated, well, almost fully mated."

Kyra grins, shaking her head at my stubbornness.

"I will make sure he doesn't move a muscle." She promises the healer. "And I will be sure to mark him, so he gets the most out of the bond."

The healer nods, and I look over at Kyra, watching as she nibbles her bottom lip shyly. I can sense the way she wants to make the full bonde happen. Simply marking each other isn't enough. We will need to mate, eventually, to have the bond int Swing. And the sooner I heal, the quicker that will be.

Pain rips me 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 the bitter flavor coats my tongue and stars dot my eyes.

I can feel the way my 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 violently, Kyra's gentle hand rubbing my back before she lowers me down.

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

"Yes, well, it sucks less when it is a surprise," 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, not hiding my annoyance, and he shrugs.

"I read it in a human medical book once." He shrugs. "Not entirely sure it is the same for us or not, but I presume as much."

"You presume?" I scoff and he ignores me, milling about before he hums, and then he exits the room without another word.

"How are you feeling?" Kyra asks, her eyes filled with worry and her lips pursed to the side.

"You want the truth?" I ask, my eyes sliding closed as the exhaustion takes over.

"Of course I do." She chuckles.

"I feel fucking awful," I admit, then I draw her hand to my lips. "Yet, I have never felt more whole in my life."

I peek through my eyes, catching a

glimpse of her perfect smile. Then she leans down, her face hovering over mine as she lets go of my hand and strokes the hair from my face. Her fingers graze over my scared face, and she doesn't grimace or pull away. Instead, she smiles the most genuine of smiles filled with the

purest love.

"I still can't believe you saved Tiago," she whispers in awe.

"He is our son," the word slips out, but it feels so right and she hides the sweetest grin. "Plus, I have underestimated you far too many times to think you couldn't handle yourself." She arches a brow in surprise. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Mmm, maybe. I don't know," I grin, letting my eyes fall closed once more. "I might be delirious from all this pain."

"Oh, most definitely." She teases

back with me, and then soft as a breeze, I feel her lips meet mine and the pain melts into nothing, my heart pounding in my chest and my lycan whimpering in happiness. So much agony in the past two years has only made these happy moments feel so much sweeter.