Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 119

Chapter 119: A Secret Meeting

"I’m treating everyone today!"

Kira said it with a cheerfulness that didn’t reach her heart.

After the fallout with Ragnar, she had tried to regain her bubble all morning, but the words kept twisting in her mind like a knife.

She had walked out of that room and had locked herself in the adjacent bedroom, while he urged her to open the door. Now, Kira wanted to fill the ache in her heart with happiness, but it was proving particularly difficult today.

Her mind hadn’t been on her lectures today. It had been on the thoughts about her life in Dravengard, and the secret plan she’d spent half the night sweating over.

Now, during the brunch break, she was in front of the university canteen with her small army of bodyguards offering them food.

The men exchanged uncertain glances.

Kira smiled. "Come on, brunch is on me."

Connor, standing closest to her, gave a small, indulgent smile but shook his head.

"That is very kind of you, My Queen," he said. "But you know the rules. We don’t eat while we’re on duty. Our focus has to be on you always."

Kira stepped closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a naughty secret.

"Oh, come on, Connor. The King isn’t here to see that you’re eating. He’s back at the estate being... well, being himself. Unless you’re planning on calling him to tell him that you’ve had a sandwich, no one’s ever going to know."

She was already moving toward the canteen door, Connor on her heels. "Come on. You’ve been standing outside since seven this morning."

She saw the other men glancing at Connor to give them a go-ahead.

"Please?" Kira nudged Connor’s arm playfully. "I’ve already ordered the best takeaways they have. It’d be a waste of good food to throw it away. You can eat in the cars if you don’t want to be seen inside the canteen, eating."

More glances. Connor pressed his lips together, which was as close to losing an argument as he ever got. "Fine. Just this once."

Kira’s smile widened, but inside, a cold knot of guilt tightened. I’m sorry, Connor, she thought. I really am sorry.

Thirty minutes later, they were settled. Kira had finished brunch and ordered enough food to constitute a proper meal for each bodyguard, packaged neatly in takeaway boxes, and the bodyguards had retreated to the cars to eat.

Her heart pounded frantically at the prospect of what she was about to do, but there was no other way to get them out of her way. Kira leaned against one of the SUVs.

"I’m waiting for Jessica," she told him. "She’ll be here soon."

She walked over, her legs feeling a little wobbly, and sat down across from the woman waiting for her.

The woman was elegant, her blonde hair perfectly coiffed, her jewellery catching the light. She looked every bit the Alpha’s wife. For a moment, they just stared at each other. Then, the woman reached up and slowly pulled off her sunglasses.

"Lydia," Kira called casually.

Lydia’s face broke into a wide smile. She reached across the table as if to touch Kira’s hand, though she stopped herself at the last second.

"I can’t quite believe it’s you," Lydia said softly. "Look at you. You look wonderful. So healthy, so grown up. Truly. Marriage suits you."

She shook her head slightly, as though she could not quite believe it. "I was so glad when Jessica said you wanted to meet. I’ve been hoping you would reach out."

Kira said nothing. She folded her hands on the table and looked at the woman who had been her stepmother for as long as she could remember, who had watched Rolf raise his hand and sometimes raised her own voice alongside his, and who had also, on several occasions that Kira had spent time trying to make sense of, quietly stood between her and the worst of it.

"I’m not here for a chat, Lydia," Kira said, cutting through the pleasantries. "I’ve only got a few minutes. I’ve come to ask you questions, and I need the truth. Only the truth."

Lydia’s smile faltered, replaced by a look of nervous concern. "Of course, dear. Anything."

"I remember everything now. My memories came back." She held Lydia’s gaze steadily. "I remember that my father tried to kill me—more than once. And I remember that you were the one who stopped him. You saved me from the fire. You saved me when he tried to drown me. And I need to know why."