Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 170

Chapter 170: The Queen of Dravengard

Inside Kai’s room in the main mansion, Jessica still held his hand, her eyes fixed on his face.

The tangle of tubes that had run him to the ECMO machine were gone now.

They had been removed early that morning, once Dr Lorenzo confirmed that his heart had proven it could beat strong and steady on its own.

On the television mounted across the room, clips from the coronation played softly. Jessica half-watched it while she talked to Kai, speaking to him as though he could hear every word.

"You know," she said softly, thumb brushing across his knuckles, "I’ve had hours to sit here and stare at your face. Really stare at it. Properly, with nothing else to do."

She tilted her head. "And I have to confess something. You’re a very handsome man, Kai. Annoyingly so, actually. It’s almost rude."

His face stayed still on the pillow. The monitor machines beeped their gentle rhythm.

Jessica gave a small, wet laugh.

"You scared me half to death, you know that?" she whispered. Her voice cracked on the words.

"When I saw you lying here like this, I thought, that’s it. That’s the end of him. And do you know the first thing I felt? Not grief. Regret."

She wiped quickly at her eyes. "Because I never told you. From the very first night, I knew. I knew you were my mate, and I was too scared and too stubborn and too proud to say a single word about it. I kept thinking there’d be time. Until suddenly there isn’t."

She drew a shaking breath.

"So you need to wake up quickly. Because I miss you. I miss your terrible jokes and your stupid grin and the way you call me your wife to wind me up."

She laughed again. "And I promise. I promise I won’t hold back anymore. I won’t be harsh with you, or pretend I don’t care, or push you away to protect myself. Not ever again."

She wiped her eyes with the heel of her hand.

"You always call me your wife," she said quietly. "Like it’s already decided. Like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. And the truth is, there is nothing in this entire world I would love more. To be your wife. To have you as my husband."

Her tears spilled over freely now, and she let them. "So please. Please let the goddess heal you. Wake up and call me your wife again and I won’t even argue. Not once."

She lowered her head and rested it gently on the edge of the bed, beside their joined hands, her eyes squeezed shut.

"So," came a voice, weak and rough and unmistakably amused. "We’re getting married then?"

Jessica’s head snapped up so fast she nearly gave herself whiplash.

Kai’s eyes were open. Barely, and heavy with exhaustion, but open. And glinting with that exact brand of mischief she had been mourning for two solid days.

"Oh, goddess!" Jessica shot upright in her chair, both hands flying to her mouth. "You’re awake! You’re awake, you absolute menace!"

"Mm." Kai’s mouth tugged into his signature lopsided smirk, the one that had no business being that charming on a man who had been at death’s door hours ago. "Did you miss me?"

Jessica opened her mouth. Nothing came out. She was too overwhelmed, her chest heaving, her eyes streaming, her hands shaking against her lips as she just stared and stared at him like he might vanish if she blinked.

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