Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134: She Removes me to Replace Me

Consciousness returned to Kira in fragments of bright, painful light. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block it out, but her body refused to be ignored. Everything hurt.

Her head throbbed like it had been run over by a truck, her skin prickled, and a sharp sting pulsed through her shoulder. The steady beeping of machines filled the room.

She opened her eyes, but quickly shut them again when the bright lights assaulted her sight. For a long moment, she just lay there, disoriented, trying to make sense of where she was and how she had gotten here.

Then, she sighed and turned her head to the side. Only then did she realise someone was clutching her hand. Derek was sitting in a chair pulled right up to the bed, his large hand wrapped tightly around hers. His head rested on the mattress beside her, eyes closed, face lined with exhaustion.

She started to reach out to him with her other hand to run it through his hair, but her hand paused midway as the memories of everything that had happened flooded back to her.

Ruby in Derek’s study, on his lap, kissing him, her own anger exploding, Derek chasing her down the corridor, and finally Ruby pushing her down that flight of stairs. The terrifying weightlessness as she tumbled down the stairs.

Her hand dropped back to the bed. She tried to gently pull her fingers out of Derek’s grip, but the slight movement woke him. His eyes snapped open, heavy with sleep but instantly alert when they landed on her as he raised his head.

Kira looked at him. At his open shirt, the dark circles under his eyes, the way his hair was flattened on one side from the angle at which he had been sleeping. He looked like he had not moved from that chair since they brought her in.

"Kira..." His voice was rough, but filled with relief.

She yanked her hand free completely and sat up a little, ignoring the sharp protest from her body.

"What are you doing here?"

Derek straightened in the chair, running a hand through his already messy hair. "You were unconscious. The doctors said—"

"Of course I was unconscious," Kira cut in, her voice dry and humourless. "Your mistress shoved me down the stairs. Remember?"

Derek flinched. "Nothing happened between Ruby and me. I swear it."

Kira let out a bitter laugh that turned into a wince of pain. "You expect me to believe that?"

"I expect you to believe me."

"I know what I saw, Derek."

"You saw something that was not what it looked like."

She turned her head to look at him properly. "She was in your lap. Your lips were locked." She said evenly. "Tell me what part of that I misread."

"I know what you saw. But that is not what happened."

"I want to be alone," she said abruptly.

"I’m not leaving you here by yourself," he said quietly, but firmly.

"You don’t get to decide that!" Kira snapped, her voice rising despite the pain.

"Kira."

"I don’t ever want to see you again. I’m done with this whole thing, and I need my freedom!"

He stared at her for a moment but said nothing.

"You promised we would be exclusive. You stood there and made me believe we were building something real. And then I walk in and see her with you again?"

Derek’s brows furrowed. "Again?"

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