Chapter 169 On Lykae's back

Chapter 169 On Lykae's back
Nyx’s POV

The wolf lowered himself. Draegan’s head dipped toward me waiting for me to climb. Caelan narrowed his eyes at both of us then turned to the wolf. 

“Draegan,” he said slowly, “if you drop her, I will personally make sure the Lykae have a new king.”

The wolf’s ears twitched. I started laughing. “He’s joking.”

“I am not.”

Draegan looked offended. I put one hand against the wolf’s enormous shoulder. His fur was unbelievably soft.

“Oh my God.”

Caelan sighed shaking his head as I climb his back. The moment I settled my legs against him, Draegan stood and I squealed. Caelan’s entire body went rigid.

“Draegan. Don’t you dare!”

The wolf looked back but there was mischief in his eyes. Then he ran. I let out a loud shriek before laughter erupted. 

The palace disappeared behind us almost immediately as the wolf tore through the lower forest, his paws barely seeming to touch the ground. The wind hit my face. My hair flew behind me. I grabbed fistfuls of his fur and laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

“Draegan!” I shout as he started running faster. 

I could hear Caelan somewhere behind us, he was following. Probably having the worst few minutes of his immortal existence. I turned around enough to see him racing after us, his expression murderous. I laughed even harder.

“Draegan, slow down!”

He did not. The forest blurred around us. For the first time since arriving in the Lore, I wasn’t thinking about prophecies or immortality or Nymeria or what might happen tomorrow.

I was simply happy. Completely, stupidly happy.

And behind me, I could hear Caelan shouting my name. When Draegan finally slowed, I was breathless from laughing. He stopped near the edge of the river and lowered himself so I could climb down. I slid off his back and immediately wrapped both arms around his neck.

“That was amazing.”

His tail moved once and I laughed. “Again?”

A low growl came from behind me. I turned to find Caelan was standing several feet away. His hair was slightly disheveled. His breathing was heavier than usual and his eyes were glowing.

“Draegan,” he said with terrifying calm, “you nearly killed my mate.”

The wolf’s mouth opened. It looked suspiciously like a grin and I laughed again. I have been laughing since we started this tour. Caelan walked over and pulled me against him.

His hands went immediately to my arms, then my shoulders, checking me over without even seeming to realize he was doing it.

“Are you hurt?”

“I’m completely fine.”

His eyes moved over my face again. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” Only then did some of the tension leave his body. He pressed his lips against my forehead. Then my temple. Then, because he knew exactly what it did to me, he kissed the tip of my ear.

I shivered as he smiled against my skin. “You enjoyed that far too much.”

“I did.” I looked up at him. “You were scared.”

His expression softened. “Yes. I know you want to have fun,” he murmured, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “And I don’t want to take that from you. But every time you disappear around a corner, my mind remembers that the prophecy still hasn’t finished with you.”

The smile left my face. His thumb moved slowly over my cheek. “They said you would be immortal by now. And you’re not.”

“I know.”

His gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to my eyes. “So forgive me if I worry.”

I leaned closer. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Draegan shifted back into his human form several feet away. He looked between us.

“Before you two turn this into another romantic moment, there’s something you should know.”

I pulled away slightly. Caelan’s hand remained at my waist.

“What?”

Draegan looked toward the forest. “The wolf you just rode isn’t my real wolf.”

I blinked. “What?”

His expression changed. The amusement disappeared. “My wolf refused to shift after my mate left.”

Caelan’s hand tightened around mine like he doesn’t know about that piece of info. Draegan looked toward the mountains, his face suddenly older than it had been a few minutes ago.

“So I learned to manage the Lykae kingdom without him. I couldn’t exactly leave an entire pack without a king because my wolf decided to grieve.”

My chest tightened. “Draegan…”

He shook his head gently. “Don’t pity me fae princess. I’ll be fine.”

He looked at me then, and for once there was no sarcasm in his face. “That wolf is still in me. He just won’t come out.”

I reached for his hand and he looked down at it. Then he closed his fingers around mine.

We stood there in silence, even Caelan’s possessiveness has calmed down somewhat. Then slowly I felt the pull of Drakthar inside me. 

My breath caught. The connection between us had always been there, stretched thin across distance but impossible to mistake. He decided to give me space to enjoy my delayed honeymoon as he put it. 

I hadn’t felt him properly since we left. Now something cold moved through my chest like I’ve never felt before. There was raw pain then anger followed closely by betrayal. 

I released Draegan’s hand when I felt white hot rage boiling inside of me related to him. Like he was spitting out fire. My eyes found Caelan’s who immediately noticed soemtjing was wrong. 

“Drakthar.” Was all I said, my chest heaving with the force of the heat. 

“My permission Nyx.” He said holding me by the waist and I gave it back to him. He traced us to Noctharys.